Manny Pacquiao is clearly busting his ass for his December fight with Oscar De La Hoya. Manny is compensating for his lack of size by sparring with much bigger fighters, and he’s even sticking to a very strict 8:30 p.m. curfew in preparation for the fight. While Pacquiao seems to be doing everything right, De la Hoya and his camp is doing everything wrong, either by looking past Pac-man or ensuring him the beating of his life.

Another great voice in boxing weighed in yesterday on De La Hoya’s behalf. Angelo Dundee, who trained Muhammed Ali, predicted there is no way Pacquiao could stand up to the Golden Boy. Maybe Angelo will get it right this time.

“Oscar has fought and sparred with so many smaller guys,” Dundee said in an article written by website editor Michael Marley. “And Oscar has knocked them all over the ring.”

The 5-foot-10 De La Hoya will not have problems punching downward at the 5-foot-6 Pacquiao, added Dundee, also popularly known as Muhammad Ali’s tutor.

“Can Manny win that fight?” Dundee asked. “I don’t think so, I really don’t. I love Oscar to win that fight, I really do.”

Dundee has an affinity for De La Hoya, and it’s hard for us to find any example of the man betting against the Golden Boy. The last time he weighed in on a De La Hoya fight, he told the world Oscar would beat Floyd Mayweather in a decision, since the bigger guy almost always beats the smaller guy. And we know how that worked out, right?

Maybe we’re a bit overconfident in Pacquiao’s chances, but someone has to push back against the nonstop torrent of arrogance and cock-surety that is flowing freely from the De La Hoya camp. We have to give a nod to the strong, silent type, even if he’s the much smaller guy with the rather severe curfew.

Dundee: Pacquiao has no chance vs Hoya [Philipine Daily Inquirer]
Image [LA Times]

For more De La Hoya/Pacquiao coverage, click here.