Pacquiao-De La Hoya update!

Wednesday, August 13 2008

By Nick Giongco

Manny Pacquiao will come out with an official statement Thursday in Manila (Wednesday in the US) whether he will face Oscar De La Hoya on Dec. 6 in Las Vegas. "Manny Pacquiao will issue a statement tomorrow (Thursday)," said Pacquiao lawyer Franklin Gacal from General Santos City. "Out of respect for (Top Rank chief) Bob Arum, we will make the announcement tomorrow." Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) has already forwarded the final document containing the financial terms to Pacquiao and even Bob Arum told The Manila Bulletin/Fightnews that "we will know within the next 24 hours" if it will push through or not. Pacquiao was on a medical mission on Wednesday in South Cotabato but has been briefed about the contents of the GBP counter-proposal. Last Tuesday, Pacquiao also told the paper that there is a "75 percent" likelihood that the De La Hoya bout will materialize. Both have agreed to meet at 147 lbs (or less) during the official weighin and that 8 oz gloves will also be used in the clash being penciled for the 17,000-seat MGM Grand. In the event the De La Hoya fight doesn't happen, Arum will pit Pacquiao against Humberto Soto of Mexico on Nov. 1 at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. The equally-dangerous Soto, according to Arum, has been put on stand-by status.

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