I'll make Manny pay: Oscar

De La Hoya (L) & Pacquaio

It's very personal for me... he didn't honor me that night, so I'm not going to honor him come December 6.

De La Hoya on Pacquaio
Quotes of the week

DE LA HOYA v PACQUIAO
12 Rounds Welterweight
JUDGEMENT NIGHT
10pm, Saturday, December 6
Live on Sky Box Office & HD
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Oscar De La Hoya has revealed an underlying grudge against Manny Pacquiao after he tried to sign the Filipino to Golden Boy Promotions.

De La Hoya says that a deal was in place between the pair but that Pacquiao reneged on the contract, leaving the Golden Boy smarting.

And De La Hoya is delighted to be given the chance to get even with Pacquiao, who has stepped up two weight classes for what is being billed as 'The Dream Match'.

"Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would fight Manny Pacquiao," he said. "He looked into my eyes and I looked into his eyes and we shook hands and we had a deal, and he talks about honor.

Personal

"I never thought I would fight him. That's also one of the reasons why this fight is so personal to me because of that night when we signed the deal and he turned his back on me, he's going to have to pay come December 6.

"It's very personal for me. That moment there is what makes it personal because, I don't want him to be talking about honor and how he honors honor and this and that and, no, he didn't honor me that night, so I'm not going to honor him come December 6."

And De La Hoya is more focused than ever before ahead of December 6, using trainer Nacho Beristain for the first time, and leaving the promotional side of things to his company.

"When I become the fighter, I become a full-time fighter. I have all the confidence in the world and in my team at Golden Boy Promotions, to take care of the job at hand.

Strictly business

"It's no distraction whatsoever. I'm here in Big Bear in the mountains only a couple hours away from my office in downtown LA.

"And it's strictly boxing up here. It's strictly Manny Pacquiao, thinking of Manny Pacquiao, eating, breathing, sleeping Manny Pacquiao. It's the focus that I've learned to have over the years.

"I believe if I would've started Golden Boy Promotions 10 years ago, it would've been a huge distraction because I would've wanted to be involved with everything. But I have a good team, a great team that can take care of the job at hand.

"What happens is when you prepare yourself for a fight, you get stronger, you get faster, you feel more confident. As a fight gets closer you feel like King Kong and you can destroy anybody. That's just exactly the way I feel right now.

"I will be extremely, extremely disappointed if this fight doesn't end in a knockout. It will be a total disaster for me."