Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

The most anticipated match of the year is only a few days away. The “Dream Match” between Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao is set to converge this Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

“This is our Superbowl,” said Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer during a Monday morning conference call. “These two are the most exciting fighters of our generation.”

Indeed, just like two Superbowl teams, these two fighters are waiting to get at it in front of a worldwide audience.

The Golden Boy and the Pride of the Philippines are not only fighting for bragging rights but country pride as well.

Pacquiao (47-3-2 35 KO’s) is known as the Mexicutioner, who could add another Mexican boxer as a notch on his belt and continue his glorious standing amongst the Filipino people. De La Hoya (39-5 30 KO’s), the pride of East LA, can set a whole country in mourning with a win against Pacquiao.

Downtown at the unveiling of his very own bronze statue in front of the Staples Center, De La Hoya said that he’s stronger than ever and ready to face off against the arguably pound-4-pound king Pacquiao.

“I feel extremely strong [at 147 pounds],” said De La Hoya. “My speed is just incredible. I’m actually pretty surprised [about my speed]. I owe it all to my diet and my nutritionist, who is incredible. He made this plan for me that I could eat all the foods I want, the right foods, and still stay strong.

“My power is incredible right now,” he added. “It’s fast and it’s explosive.”

De La Hoya added that making the 147-pound weight limit, a weight that he hasn’t fought in over six years, was no problem.

“I’m in tremendous shape,” he said. “Fighters train to make the weight. That’s what fighters do so I could make the weight. I didn’t have to train to make weight. I trained for the fight. That’s the difference.”

Meanwhile, just a few miles away at the Wildcard Boxing Club as Pacquiao prepared to board a charter bus with his face on it, Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach said that after nine weeks of training camp, Pacquiao is itching to get back in the ring.

“He’s 100 percent and ready to go,” said Roach to the Asian Journal. “We had our last day of boxing today [Monday]. He sparred four rounds. He’s tired of training and ready to fight.”

Roach said that Pacquiao is currently weighing 146 pounds, one pound under the required welterweight limit. He said that Pacquiao would be able to make weight easily and probably gain about four pounds after the weigh in on Friday.

“[He] only has five percent of body fat,” added Roach. “He’s in great shape. He’s holding weight really well.”