Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.
***
Oscar De La Hoya would love to make a fight this year between his young contender Ryan Garcia and legendary fighter Manny Pacquiao.
Pacquiao could fight Conor McGregor before the end of the year and perhaps take one more fight before he retires to focus on politics in his native Philippines. He’s a senator.
“I would make that in a heartbeat,” said De La Hoya told Snowqueen LA. “I would literally make that fight. And I would make that fight at the end of this year or the first quarter of next year.
“I love that fight for Ryan. That takes Ryan to a whole another level. When you’re inside fighting with a legend, it’s kind of like changing of the guards. When I fought Floyd Mayweather, and he beat me, Floyd Mayweather skyrocketed to superstardom. …”
“And when Manny Pacquiao fought me and beat me, he skyrocketed to superstardom. This would be the same thing. It would be the changing of the guard for Ryan Garcia and Manny Pacquiao.”
[lawrence-related id=17127,17013,17007,16967,16955,16952,16940,16907]
De La Hoya believes that anyone considering a fight with Garcia should act quickly because he’s getting better every day.
“Ryan Garcia, the longer people wait to fight him, the longer these fights take to happen, the more dangerous he’s going to get,” De La Hoya said. “Ryan Garcia, he wants Tank Davis tomorrow.
“He wants to fight and he says he’ll knock him out in two rounds, and we’re going to push for that fight because that’s what he wants. If for some reason it doesn’t get made, the more time that passes by, Ryan Garcia gets better and better.
“He’s going to become a force that is going to be unstoppable. When he tightens up his defense, when he gets stronger. He hasn’t developed his man strength yet, and he’s already very strong. His speed is impeccable.
“Yeah, I want that fight (Davis vs. Garcia) to happen, but if for some reason it doesn’t happen and it happens down the road … the more time that passes the better the chances for Ryan against anyone.”
De La Hoya added that Garcia is unusual beyond his ability.
“Ryan Garcia is a special fighter inside and outside of the ring,” De La Hoya said. “If you put together an Elvis Presley and Brad Pitt, a Canelo Alvarez, and Oscar De La Hoya, you have Ryan Garcia
“If Ryan can somehow defeat Pacquiao, it’ll take his career to the next level. He’ll be transformed into a star overnight.”