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De La Hoya promotes hometown and next bout

By ROSS RIVERA, Special to the Wave 09.OCT.08

Ten-time world champion Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao, billed as boxing’s “best fighter pound for pound,” completed a six-city nationwide tour in East Los Angeles Tuesday to promote their Dec. 6 bout in Las Vegas.

An estimated 4,000 fans were at the event held under Whittier Boulevard arches in De La Hoya’s hometown. Comedian George Lopez, a friend of De La Hoya’s, and radio personality Piolin were the hosts.

The event in East L.A. followed similar stops in New York, San Antonio and San Francisco in an effort to promote the welterweight fight billed as “Dream match.”

“I had said that we must stop in East Los Angeles under the arches at Whittier Boulevard and Arizona Avenue because this is our historical monument,” De La Hoya, a Garfield High School, graduate, said. “I will bring back the victory to East L.A. and will always think of my race. I will take East L.A. to my grave.”

As for his opponent, De La Hoya said, “I respect Pacquiao and on Dec. 6, we will fight for everything.”

Pacquiao, a native of the Philippines, said, “God can only know who will win. Everybody knows my style. I will do my best to give a good fight to make you guys happy.”

De La Hoya is 39-5 with 30 knockouts. Pacquiao is 47-3-2 with 35 knockouts.

Tickets for the fight to be held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena were sold out in one day to establish a second-best all-time live gate of $17 million.

Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank are promoting a card that also includes mixed martial arts fighting. The undercard includes rising junior welterweight Victor Ortiz of Oxnard.