They’re Giving This Fight A Hook  Manny Pacquiao versus Oscar De La Hoya has a chance to become the most chewed-on boxing match since Tyson versus Holyfield. • It is still 19 days until the celebrated pair steps into the ring at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas for what has become the most anticipated 12 rounds of the year. But the slings and arrows of pre-fight propaganda have been flying for some time now… BILL DWYRE, www.latimes.com

Boxing Club Holds Tryouts  For the past two weekends, Penn State students have stepped into the ring in Room 52 of the White Building trying to earn a spot on the boxing team. • Nearly 50 people packed themselves into the basement room during each of the tryouts on Nov. 8 and 16, which determined who would be added to the team to replace the boxers lost from last year. About 30 percent of the nearly 50 people who tried out are expected to make the team… Ryan Loy, www.collegian.psu.edu

(Photos— De la Hoya: Tom Hogan; Boxing tryouts: Michael Felletter)

Haye Happy To Do Things His Way - Former cruiserweight boxer believes it made sense to move up to heavyweight  In the days after David Haye knocked out Enzo Maccarinelli in March to win his third version of the world cruiserweight title the messages and offers started to pile up. Haye was simply too big for the cruiserweight division and there were a lot of people in the business desperate to turn Haye into a heavyweight. He listened and nodded but he had his own plans and was soon back near Girne in Northern Cyprus to begin his big push… Steve Bunce, www.independent.co.uk 

Calzaghe Sr Says Fear Of Boredom May Persuade Joe To Keep Boxing  Joe Calzaghe’s determination to retire following his unanimous points victory over Roy Jones Jr on Saturday appears to be softening after his father and coach, Enzo, yesterday insisted the fighter had not made a final decision on his future and could well continue in an attempt to avoid “boredom”… Sachin Nakrani, www.guardian.co.uk

Oscar De La Hoya Takes On All Comers At Media Day  There was a good omen the other day at Oscar De La Hoya’s training camp. The venerable boxer stayed on his feet for more than two hours. • Not that the 35-year-old De La Hoya has spent all that much time on his back in a 16-year career of 44 fights and 39 wins. But the talk has been hot and heavy that De La Hoya’s Dec. 6 opponent, the younger and harder-punching Manny Pacquiao, 29, is thinking knockout more than decision… BILL DWYRE, www.latimes.com

Holyfield Says ‘Time Is Running Out’  The end might actually be near for Evander Holyfield. It won’t arrive, however, without one more title shot. • Holyfield, who said he plans to retire by the end of 2009, will meet 7-foot Russian Nikolai Valuev for the WBA heavyweight title Dec. 20 in Zurich, Switzerland. Final contracts are expected to be signed before the end of the week… Jeff Schultz, www.ajc.com

Roach: Oscar - Not Me - Lost Mayweather Bout  MANILA, Philippines— If Oscar de la Hoya loses on December 6, Freddie Roach won’t feel bad about getting blamed for it. • Roach said in an international media-conference call on Monday that de la Hoya blamed him for losing to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2007. • The Hall of Fame trainer rejected de la Hoya’s claims, saying de la Hoya strayed from using his bread and butter, the jab… DOMINIC MENOR, www.gmanews.tv

Champion To Stay Amateur  Rau’shee Warren, the world champion flyweight, has decided to stay in the amateur ranks for four more years in an attempt to become the first three-time Olympian in United States history. Warren, a three-time national champion, was the first two-time American Olympic fighter in 30 years when he lost a 1-point decision in his Beijing opener. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pre-Fight predictions and preview with some of boxing’s top journalist and personalities including Bert Sugar (ESPN) and Ed Mulholland (Fightwireimages.com).

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Oscar De La Hoya At 35 Still Attracts Crowds, Sells Tickets  Oscar De La Hoya was in a car, on his way into San Francisco where the Golden Gate awaited. • He was pretty sure of that, because on this day alone he and Manny Pacquiao had already done the Houston space centre and paid a visit to the Alamo, where a boisterous crowd sprinkled liberally with female admirers waited patiently in the hot sun for his arrival… Tim Dahlberg, canadianpress.google.com

>> Check out the ‘Fight Party!’ pics from Oscar De la Hoya vs Steve Forbes, Home Depot Center (Carson, California 5/3/08) Enjoy!

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) 

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)                  

De La Hoya Stays With The Plan In Easy Win He didn’t get the knockout, but he got the work. • In Oscar De La Hoya’s quest to stay sharp for his September rematch against boxing’s unbeaten, pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr., the “Golden Boy” mounted a sustained attack filled with aggression and scoring left hands to dominate Steve Forbes in front of a capacity hometown crowd of 27,000 at the Home Depot Center’s soccer stadium in Carson. —Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times

Legend About Famed Boxing Writer Turns Out To Be Untrue Pat Putnam, one of the most recognizable boxing writers of the past half-century, told at least one false tale about fighting. • His own. • Putnam, who died in 2005 had been a long time writer for Sports Illustrated. One of the most fascinating stories he ever told was the one about being a Marine veteran, a prisoner during the Korean War and the winner of four Purple Hearts and a Navy Cross. • But as explained in this piece by Dan Lamothe of the Marine Corps Times, Putnam made the whole thing up. —By Tom Weir & Reid Cherner, blogs.usatoday.com

Measure Sought To Legalize White-Collar Boxing Shows In New York Two boxers traded jabs and feints in the raised ring, a long way from the days when rough kids fought their way out of rough neighbourhoods. • The famed Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn draws a different crowd now. About three-quarters of the customers are white-collar professionals. —The Canadian Press

(De La Hoya Photo by Tom Hogan/Golden Boy Promotions; Putnam: John Iacono/SI) 

De La Hoya Eyes Cotto For Finale Oscar De La Hoya’s exit strategy isn’t hard to decipher. It’s as simple as an old line: Follow the money. —Norm Fraunheim, The Arizona Republic

All Set Up For An Oscar Victory It was late Thursday morning and Steve Forbes was about to play host to a conference call promoting his welterweight fight next Saturday against Oscar De La Hoya at Home Depot Center in Carson. • Before Forbes addressed reporters, Richard Schaefer and Jeff Wald did their best to convince those on the line that this is going to be a competitive fight. —By Robert Morales, www.presstelegram.com

World-Renowned Ref Ready To Rumble VANCOUVER— His dream when he first became a third man in the ring was to referee just one world title fight. • More than 170 title bouts later, Joe Cortez is still employing his now-trademarked “fair, but firm” style as one of the most respected boxing officials in the world. —Gary Kingston, www.nationalpost.com