WBC lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao has agreed to fight six-time boxing world champion Oscar De La Hoya for a 12-round non-title bout at the welterweight limit of 147 pounds on December 6, 2008 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada!

The Pacquiao vs De La Hoya fight is expected to be the biggest fight of the year, and will be a sure blockbuster pay-per-view event. Promoters Bob Arum of Top Rank and Richard Schaefer have already shook hands, but the share of the purse for this main event has yet to be announced. The Pacquiao vs De La Hoya match took three weeks of negotiations. Initially, Manny Pacquiao wanted 40% share of the purse while Oscar De La Hoya offered 30%. Eventually, the two parties agreed to something in between. 35% maybe?

Oddsmakers already opened a betting line for the Pacquiao vs De La Hoya fight, and odds makers are making Oscar De La Hoya as an 8-5 favorite over Manny Pacquiao. Well, that seems normal as Oscar De La Hoya has had experience fighting at 147 pounds even though he hasn’t fought at that weight since 2001. Meanwhile, Manny Pacquiao hasn’t found above 135 pounds, and it will be interesting to see how Manny Pacquiao gains the weight to match up against the size of Oscar De La Hoya.

For Oscar De La Hoya, this may be his last fight before he considers retirement at the age of 35. Oscar De La Hoya has wanted to fight Manny Pacquiao ever since he watched Pacquiao destroy the likes of Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez and David Diaz. Oscar De La Hoya’s desire was even pushed further after reading statements from Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach who said that Oscar De La Hoya will not be able to ‘pull the trigger’ against Manny Pacquiao.

“I felt challenged, especially from an expert trainer like Freddie Roach… If he thinks I can’t pull the trigger, then we’ll see on December 6,” said Oscar De La Hoya.

Freddie Roach was in Oscar De La Hoya’s corner in his fight against Floyd Mayweather, so maybe there is some basis of truth for the statements of Freddie Roach.

Meanwhile, Manny Pacquiao thinks that he has the advantage in speed and technique, predicting that he would beat Oscar De La Hoya in the same way he clinically defeated David Diaz where Pacquiao chopped down David Diaz until he won via a 9th round TKO.

“I’m faster and stronger than him, and I’m younger… He has an advantage in the height… but I believe I’m stronger,” was Manny Pacquiao’s statement.

Check out the latest odds and betting props for the Pacquiao-De La Hoya fight at the boxing sportsbook.

De La Hoya-Pacquiao Tickets and Ringside Seats for December 6 at the MGM Grand Arena are available here.