De La Hoya: Eyeing Pacquiao

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The proposed December 6th super-fight between Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao has taken a significant step forward.

The size of the purse is now the only stumbling block for the non-title welterweight bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas to go ahead.

This news comes after negotiations began at the start of August between Richard Schaefer, chief executive of De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, and Bob Arum, president of Top Rank Boxing, which represents Pacquiao.

Arum pushed for the fight to be held at 147 pounds and with eight-ounce gloves, which De La Hoya has agreed to.

Schaefer spoke to De La Hoya several times over the weekend and then relayed the boxer's final terms to Arum on Wednesday morning.

"Now, it's up to Pacquiao if he wants to do it or not," Schaefer told the Los Angeles Times.

Schaefer confirmed they have not yet agreed on the share of the purse, the size of which he would not disclose, nor the percentage Pacquiao was seeking.

Biggest payday

But he said it would easily be the biggest payday of Pacquiao's career.

"We gave in a bit on the last round of negotiations. This time around, we're not willing to make any further concessions," said Schaefer, who added he expected to have an answer before this weekend.

The agreement on the weight and size of the gloves for the bout comes as the Nevada Athletic Commission requires any fight at 147 or higher to be contested with 10-ounce gloves, unless the boxers agree on a different size.

Six-weight world champion De La Hoya last fought in March at 150 pounds, while four-weight world champion Pacquiao defeated David Diaz in June at 135 pounds.