Will Oscar fool Freddie?

Golden Boy Promotions matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz is convinced Oscar dela Hoya will surprise Freddie Roach in the coming fight against Manny Pacquiao with tactics the trainer never saw when he worked with the 1992 Olympic gold medalist for the Floyd Mayweather bout last year.

Lewkowicz was recently in Manila for a brief visit on the way to the WBC convention in China and discounted Roach’s supposed advantage in knowing Dela Hoya’s weaknesses because they once worked together in camp.

Dela Hoya paid Roach $1 Million as his trainer for six weeks in preparing for Mayweather to whom he lost by split decision.

“A trainer can help a fighter win but he can’t win a fight for his fighter,” said Lewkowicz. “I am neither a trainer nor a fighter. My talent is in matchmaking and I predict my fights. Fighters change styles depending on their opponents. Casamayor fought differently against Sta. Cruz than against Katsidis. Hopkins fought differently against Calzaghe than against Pavlik. The styles they showed were completely different.”

Lewkowicz admitted Roach is a cerebral trainer with lots of experience and know-how but said he won’t be able to predict what Dela Hoya will do against Pacquiao.

“No matter how good Roach is, he’ll never figure out how Oscar will fight Manny,” continued Lewkowicz. “Remember, Oscar is a great fighter, an Olympic gold medalist with achievements nobody will ever match. Oscar can fool Roach anytime, anyhow and any minute of his life.”

Lewkowicz said Dela Hoya’s experience with a wide variety of trainers will enrich, not confuse, him. De la Hoya has been trained by Roach, Floyd Mayweather, Sr., Emmanuel Steward, Gil Clancy, Jesus (The Professor) Rivero and Robert Alcazar.

For Pacquiao, Dela Hoya chose veteran Ignacio (Nacho) Beristain as his seventh career trainer. Beristain has worked with at least 16 world champions, including Ricardo Lopez, Daniel Zaragoza and Humberto Gonzalez but Dela Hoya tapped him for his experience with Juan Manuel Marquez who held Pacquiao to a draw and lost a close split decision in a rematch. Dela Hoya also brought in legendary Angelo Dundee as a training consultant.

“Oscar learns from each of his trainers and with Nacho, he will be reeducated,” said Lewkowicz. “Bob (Arum) thinks Nacho will screw up Oscar but Oscar is too smart to be screwed up. Nacho is very demanding and it’s good for Oscar to work with a trainer who’s a strict disciplinarian. If Nacho is the professor, I rate Freddie only as a good student.”

Lewkowicz said Dela Hoya’s championship experience is daunting. Dela Hoya has beaten 17 world titlists and won 10 world crowns in six different weight divisions from superfeatherweight to middleweight. 

Outside the ring, he is just as prolific with five children from four different women. His oldest daughter Atiana is with Shanna Moakler, son Jacob with Toni Alvarado, son Devon with Anqelique McQuinn and son Oscar Jr. and daughter Nina with Millie Corretjer.

As for the choice of referee, Lewkowciz said it will make no difference on the outcome. Tony Weeks has been assigned to work the fight as the third man in the ring. The judges will be Stanley Christoudoulou, Adalaide Byrd and Dave Moretti.

“In Las Vegas lately, I notice few referees make mistakes,” he said. “I have the utmost respect and confidence in Keith Kizer (executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission). I’m sure whomever he appoints as referee will be fair and square. I have no doubt, he will do the right thing. The fighters will decide who wins, not the referee.”