ROACH SAYS OSCAR OFFERS 65-35 SPLIT

By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 27 Aug 2008

Celebrated trainer Freddie Roach says he heard that “The Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya gave up 5 percent on his original offer of a 70-30 revenue split for a planned showdown with Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao set in Las Vegas on December 6.

In an overseas telephone conversation with

www.insidesports.ph, Roach said “Oscar gave up the five percent Manny asked for but for some reason the deal is not being closed.”

Pacquiao had stood firm on a 60-40 split while De La Hoya refused to back down from his original 70-30 offer. The latest information which Roach learned would set the sharing at 65-35 and effectively mean that De La Hoya gave in to some extent.

However, Pacquiao’s lawyer Franklin “Jeng” Gacal told www.insidesports.ph from General Santos City shortly after the Roach interview, that he hasn’t heard anything up to now and has tried, but failed, to contact Top Rank promoter Bob Arum who was scheduled to have returned from a brief vacation in Paris on Tuesday (Manila Time).

Roach conceded that while his role is that of Pacquiao’s trainer he wants the fight to take place but said “I am tired of trying to make this happen. He’ll blow a $20 million fight.“

Roach said that its not only about Pacquiao winning but “what it does to his career and his life is going to be unbelievable.” Roach said “I can’t believe its not happening but its out of my hands.“

The two-time “Trainer of the Year” regarded as one of the best in the business and someone who has honed Pacquiao’s skills to near perfection reiterated that he wants the De La Hoya fight to happen and would train Pacquiao “for free because I know he will win that fight.“