De La Hoya, who lost to Mayweather on points in 2007 and got mauled by Pacquiao in 2008, insists that pride truly mattered during his fighting days.
“I wanted to fight with the best, win or lose, but it was against the best,” said De La Hoya, nicknamed The Golden Boy, who retired following the Pacquiao beating with a record of 39-6 with 30 KOs.
De La Hoya said Mayweather won’t get the respect that he craves even if the brash US fighter retires with an unbeaten record.
Mayweather, 37, is currently 47-0 is said to be obsessed with the prospects of retiring with a 50-0 slate and surpassing the 49-0 slate of the late great heavyweight Rocky Marciano.
“People will respect you more when you face the toughest, the strongest, the most dangerous,” said De La Hoya, who turned 42 last week. So far, Mayweather doesn’t want to have anything to do with stuff about fighting the best.
Like Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Robinson and even Pacquiao, they fought the best because De La Hoya noted that, “what matters is the legacy we’re leaving behind.”
Pacquiao’s Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum sent a text message to sportswriters in Manila the other day, saying that they are trying to salvage the fight. “Working hard to close (a deal for a Mayweather fight),” said the 83-year-old Top Rank chief.
As of Monday, there was no word from Mayweather about his immediate plans based on his messages on his social media account as if there is still plenty of time on his side.
Pacquiao, meanwhile, continues to nurse hopes that Mayweather finally makes the announcement any day now so they can both move on if they are indeed facing each other or going separate ways.
There are solid backup plans for the two fighters with May- weather getting the luxury of choosing who between Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico and Amir Khan of England would be his dancing partner.( N. Giongco, mb)