Dela Hoya: Everybody grows old

KUALA LUMPUR – Oscar dela Hoya, the Golden Boy, will be at ringside, and will try to see, for himself, if Manny Pacquiao still has it.

“I don’t know how he is now,” said Dela Hoya.

The six-division world champion and gold medalist in the 1992 Olympics said he did not have the chance to see Pacquiao’s last fight, a loss to Australian Jeff Horn last year.

What he remembers is Pacquiao’s devastating knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012.

But they don’t matter now, according to Dela Hoya, who added that Sunday’s fight against Lucas Matthysse is the one that will matter.

“In boxing, you’re as good as your last fight. That’s why this is very important for Manny – to convince the people that Pacquiao is still Pacquiao,” said Dela Hoya.

“He will go out there and show the people,” added the 45-year-old retiree.

Pacquiao, he said, may or may not benefit from a one-year layoff.

“It can affect him – his timing. But then again it can help him because he’s fresh and with no wear and tear. He’s rested,” said Dela Hoya.

Pacquiao will soon turn 40.

“Yes, I’m not getting any younger. But I still have the hunger, especially when I realize that I haven’t fought for a year,” said Pacquiao.

Dela Hoya said everybody grows old.

“Your body breaks down. You can turn old overnight inside the ring,” said Dela Hoya, who still remembers the night in 2008 when he lost to Pacquiao.

That signaled the end of the career of one of the great boxers in history.

“When I fought Manny, he made me get old,” he said.