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Pacquiao saddened by former rival De La Hoya's current condition


Filipino boxing icon and eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao expressed sadness regarding the present health condition of boxing's Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya. TMZ first reported the news that De La Hoya entered himself in a California rehabilitation facility, which his close friend and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of his Golden Boy Promotions Richard Schaefer later confirmed. “After doing an honest evaluation of myself, I recognize that there are certain issues that I need to work on," De La Hoya said in a formal statement. Pacquiao, who gave De La Hoya the most terrible beating of his boxing career, expressed concern on his former rival. “Nalulungkot ako sa nangyari sa kanya," said the eight-time world champion during the grand victory party tendered to him by close friend, former Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson, at the Corinthians Garden Sunday night. Pacquiao's conditioning coach Alex Ariza, who has been in the strength conditioning business for quite some time now, said the De La Hoya case is just normal for any athletes, especially those who had been at the end of a shameful loss. “I think it does because you think back on it and probably said, `I should have done things this way. I should have done things differently," said Ariza. “I'm sure, there was a lot of doubt and questions, being the athlete that he was. I'm sure he is such a competitor." De La Hoya was a heavy favorite during his 2008 welterweight fight against Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. While the 1992 Olympic gold medal winner was going down from super-welterweight (154) to welterweight (147), the Filipino southpaw was coming up from 135 pounds (lightweight). The native of East Los Angeles never got to live up to his billing as the 32-year-old Pacquiao, faster and obviously the stronger fighter, pummeled him from the opening bell onwards. The beating eventually took its toll on the Golden Boy that before the start of the ninth round, De La Hoya retired on his stool and waved the white flag. Four months later, De La Hoya announced his retirement in an emotional ceremony at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. “I think it's one of those things that he is probably questioning himself," Ariza added. “There are a lot of variables, and I think the competitor in him is always going to be like that." There was no mention however, if alcohol or substance abuse caused De La Hoya to enter rehabilitation. The Golden Boy is actually not the first Pacquiao opponent to undergo such process. Ricky Hatton also had to rehabilitate himself from excessive alcohol in the aftermath of his brutal second round knockout at the hands of the world’s pound-for-pound king in 2009 for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) light-welterweight title. Hatton, who reportedly bloated to as big as 250 pounds, has not fought since that debacle two years ago. - RCJ, GMA News

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