Pacquiao no small challenge for De La Hoya

By J. Michael Falgoust, USA TODAY

Oscar De La Hoya will try his hand again at fighting another fast, naturally smaller opponent regarded as the sport's best boxer pound-for-pound who is moving up to welterweight.
Shane Mosley, a former lightweight champion, moved up to beat the Golden Boy in 2000 via split decision. Last year, Floyd Mayweather, also a former lightweight champion, eked a split decision, too.

Now lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao (47-3-2, 35 KOs) — who began his career in 1995 at 106 pounds — will get his shot in a Dec. 6 welterweight bout at MGM Grand in Las Vegas (HBO Pay-Per-View).

It's supposed to be De La Hoya's final bout in a pro career that commenced after he won the United States' only boxing gold medal at the 1992 Olympics. However, he wouldn't concede that this would be his last hurrah in a conference call Thursday.

Pacquiao no small challenge for De La Hoya....