Walang may bentahe kina Pacquiao at Dela Hoya

Isang 5-foot-10 1/2 fighter si Oscar Dela Hoya at may reach na 73 inches kumpara sa pagiging 5’6 ni Pacquiao bukod pa ang mas maikling wingspan na 67 inches.

Ang mga ito, ayon kina American trainer Freddie Roach at Mexican cornerman Ignacio “Nacho” Beristan, ay hindi magiging garantiya para sa magaang na panalo ng isa man kina Pacquiao at Dela Hoya.

“It’s not an issue at all. We’re just preparing for the fight. He knows he can win this fight. I know he can win this fight. We’re very confident,” ani Roach sa naturang isyu sa height at reach disadvantage ng 29-anyos na si Pacquiao sa 35-anyos na si Dela Hoya.

Magtatagpo sina Pacquiao, may 47-3-2 win-loss-draw ring record kasama ang 35 KOs, at Dela Hoya (39-5, 30 KOs) sa isang non-title welterweight fight sa Disyembre 6 (US time) sa MGM Grand Garden Arena sa Las Vegas, Nevada.

Sinabi ni Beristain na ang bilis at lakas ni Pacquiao, aakyat sa welterweight (147 pounds) mula sa pagiging hari sa lightweight divsion (135 pounds), ang bubura sa anumang bentahe ng dating light middleweight na si Dela Hoya. 

“I can tell you that the advantages that many people are talking about are not precise such as the weight, the size, the power punch. It’s going to come out that the fight is going to be even since Manny Pacquiao’s a very powerful fighter, he’s as southpaw and he’s a lefty,” ani Beristain. “So those advantages are going to be equal the night of the fight, because obviously everybody knows that fighting a southpaw is very hard; it is very difficult. Fighting Manny Pacquiao makes it a little bit harder.”

Sa pagkakaroon ng four-inches height advantage ni Dela Hoya, ang liksi ni Pacquiao ang gagamting sandata ni Roach.

“We’re just going with his natural ability and speed. The thing is, a lot of people have put weight on with weightlifting and so forth. But that takes away from speed and speed is what’s going to win us the fight,” sabi ni Roach.

Wala ring nakikitang problema si Roach ukol sa pag-akyat ni Pacquiao, naghari sa flyweight, super bantamweight at super featherweight classes, sa welterweight.

“We’re just maintaining where we’re at right now. He’s comfortable with the weight. The diet’s the only thing we’re putting weight on,” wika ni Roach. “The only thing we’ve really changed in his routine is we add a little more protein to keep the weight on.” (Russell Cadayona)