Sports
Oscar De La Hoya predicts Mayweather vs Pacquiao rematch as fight now ‘back on the table’
Oscar De La Hoya is one of just a few men to have shared the ring with both Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
De La Hoya initially met Mayweather in March 2007, losing his WBC super welterweight title by split decision, the only time in the career of Mayweather that a judge has ever scored a fight to his opponent.
‘The Golden Boy’ then fought Pacquiao just over 18 months later in December 2008, but this bout was a much more one-sided affair, as Pacquiao claimed an eighth round retirement victory in what would ultimately be De La Hoya’s final fight.
Since that date, Mayweather and Pacquiao would spend the next decade as the two best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, leading to a May 2015 meeting between the pair.
It smashed all box office and pay-per-view records, but the action inside the ring didn’t live up to the hype, as Mayweather claimed a unanimous decision victory.
Mayweather would hang up the gloves in 2017, but Pacquiao recently made a sensational return to the sport at the age of 46, fighting to a draw against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios.
Rumours then began to circulate that a shock rematch between Mayweather and Pacquiao could happen in 2026, but instead it appeared that ‘Pac-Man’ would challenge WBA welterweight champion Rolly Romero.
The planned bout between Pacquiao and Romero now no longer looks set to happen, meaning a potential clash against Mayweather could be revisited.
De La Hoya has now made his prediction to Talksport for how he sees a second meeting between his two former foes going, leaning towards his countryman.
“The first fight was many years ago, it was an okay fight. Now they’re going to do it again apparently, it’s all entertainment, that’s the way I see it.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be an exhibition or a real fight. If they make it a real fight with real rules, it’s an okay night for boxing. I think Floyd will take it.
“One thing about Floyd you have to understand is that he’s always taken care of himself. His body physically, mentally, he’s always been very sharp. “That’s the big advantage he has, he’s an athlete.”
With Mayweather now 48 and Pacquiao 47, it would certainly stun many fans if it were to actually take place.
