Walang karapatan si Dundee na magdikta kay Dela Hoya

Naging consultant man ni Oscar Dela Hoya, wala pa rin karapatan si legendary trainer Angelo Dundee na sabihin kung dapat nang magretiro si “Golden Boy” matapos matalo kay Manny Pacquiao via eight-round stoppage noong Disyembre 7.

Ayon kay Dundee, ang 35-anyos na si Dela Hoya ang dapat lamang na maghayag ng kanyang nararamdaman ukol sa kanyang makulay na boxing career. 

“That is hard to say. I think when it comes around to those kinds of things, it has to come from the source,” ani Dundee. “Let me tell you, he is a real intelligent kid, he is a family man, I met his wife, and I met his kids. He is just a good guy. I was pleased with the acquaintance. The people at Golden Boy were so nice to me. I would do that trip anytime.”

Bilang paghahanda kina Pacquiao at trainer Freddie Roach, kinuha ni Dela Hoya si Mexican trainer Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain bilang chief trainer kasunod ang pagkuha sa serbisyo ni Dundee bilang consultant.

Si Dundee ang gumiya kina world boxing legends Muhammad Ali, George Foreman at Sugar Ray Leonard sa pagiging mga world champions. 

Inasahan ni Dundee na si Dela Hoya, isang world six-division titlist, ang mananalo sa kanilang “Dream Match” ng 30-anyos na si Pacquiao.

“I thought Oscar had the style to win, I said that before. I just felt like he was big enough, and tough enough. Oscar fought tough guys throughout his career,” ani Dundee. “I watched this kid fight many, many times in L.A. when I would go there with my fighters. Everyone would go watch him because he would be fighting the toughest guys. Going into to the fight, I knew that Pacquiao was a tough guy. But I felt, if De la Hoya was fighting tough guys his entire career, then he would know how to handle this tough guy. But Pacquiao is more than that. He is slick, smart, and quick, with hands and feet.” 

Tiwala rin si Dundee sa kakayahan ni Beristain, naging cornerman ni Juan Manuel Marquez sa dalawang laban nito kay Pacquiao, bilang trainer.  

“Nacho is a good trainer. He and De la Hoya hit it off fine. Oscar’s brother Joel is a boxing guy. Even Joe, the cut man, he is a good boxing guy as well. You see, you can’t look for kinks or faults, what happened, happened. Yeah, you never second guess, I do not go that route,” sabi ni Dundee. (Russell Cadayona)