Pacquiao can beat De la Hoya – international matchmaker

CEBU CITY, Philippines - International Matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz believes that Filipino superstar Manny “Pacman" Pacquiao has a great chance of winning against six-division world champion Oscar “Golden Boy" de la Hoya if their proposed mega-fight pushes through this December. “Pacquiao and De la Hoya is a very intriguing fight. Even if he (Pacquiao) is small he has a good chance of winning," said Lewkowicz during a dinner with the local press last Tuesday, at the Madrid room of Casino Español. Pacquiao’s fight with De la Hoya has been in the offing since last year and was at first dismissed as a fantasy fight. However, after Pacquiao’s latest victory, the talks resurfaced again with Top Rank’s Bob Arum, who first planned to have Pacquiao face Edwin Valero then Humberto Soto, getting in the middle of the fight planned at a catch weight of 147 pounds. Lewkowicz, who had made many great matches possible, believes that Pacquiao is at an advantage because of his youth and is at the peak of his game. “He’s the younger fighter. He has the momentum and at the best of his life," told Lewkowicz on the 29-year-old world champion. Another aspect that would help Pacquiao win the dream match against de la Hoya would be his swiftness, which was evident in his display against the former World Boxing Council lightweight titleholder David Diaz last June 28 when he totally outpaced the former champion and scored a stunning 9th round knockout and wrested his fourth division title. “Speed will be the answer," said the renowned matchmaker. For details, visit Sun.Star Cebu.