» Corners

With Floyd Mayweather Sr. having made prior arrangement

to prepare Ricky Hatton for the British boxer’s to prepare Ricky Hatton for the British boxer’s bout with Paulie Malignaggi, De la Hoya brought in the much-respected Mexican trainer Ignacio Beristain. The negative is that De La Hoya is working with Beristain for the first time.

There is a positive, though, in that Beristain, as manager/trainer of Juan Manualk Marquez, has been across the ring from Pacquiao on two occasions and has obviously studied the Filipino fighter closely and no doubt spent many hours trying to detect strengths and weaknesses.

Pacquiao, meanwhile, has been with his trainer, Freddi Roach, for seven years.

There is continuity there. If the Dec. 6 fight becomes a punishing affair, trust and communication between fighter and trainer takes on a greater importance – and Pacquiao and Roack have, over the years, formed a real bond.

Advantage: Pacquiao

» Wild Card

Pacquiao is moving up in weight and it is not known how he will be affected by a welterweight’s punches or how much impact his own blows will have on a bigger boxer.

De La Hoya, though, is meeting probably the speediest man he will ever have faced. Will he be able to handle the Filipino’s speed?

There are rumors of De La Hoya having problems with his left shoulder, although it seems highly unlikely he would still be boxing if he felt seriously compromised in this area.

Pacquiao has been cut over the right eye in several fights, and De La Hoya’s jarring left jab could inflict damage. If Pacquiao does suffer a cut, it could have sonsiderable significance on the disposition of the contest. Although De La Hoya weighted 150 pounds for the bout with Forbes, he hasn’t made 147 (the match weight for Dec.6) is more than seven years. De La Hoya is confident that he will be strong and sharp at 147, but this remains to be seen.

Advantage: Pacquiao

Source [ ESPN Sports ]