The Pacquiao-De La Hoya matchup was first suggested about more than a year ago by broadcaster Larry Merchant, a once-brilliant sports columnist who went his way into television. Lots of people laughed at the idea then. They aren't laughing now that Pacquiao vs De La Hoya is almost a done deal.

In an interview with ESPN Dan Rafael last October 2007, Larry Merchant said "First, once upon a time, it wasn't unusual for outstanding champions to fight way over their best weight to make money."

And what did Arum, who promotes Pacquiao, think about Merchant's idea when asked last October 2007?

"We'll take it," he said immediately during that time. "I don't even have to call Manny. I am sure he would accept the challenge without question."


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During the twentieth annual convention of the World Boxing Organization conducted last October 2007, De la Hoya told Mexican media that "I would be willing to go down to welter weight to fight Pacquiao."

On February 2008, Richard Schaefer, the CEO of De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, said that the rumours aren't ridiculous and a showdown between the pair is a definite possibility, potentially as De La Hoya's farewell bout either late this year or in early 2009. Here's what he has to say a month before the Pacquiao vs Marquez II fight:

"I do see a chance for that. The person who actually came up with the idea is Larry Merchant (HBO commentator), who I consider to be one of the foremost boxing experts today. There is history of smaller fighters moving up and fighting bigger guys. Roy Jones Jr moved up 40lbs or so to fight in the heavyweight division.

"So there definitely is a precedent to that and a possibility that something like that could happen."