'Rocky' road ahead for De La Hoya before Pacquiao showdown

BIG BEAR CITY, California: Perhaps more "Golden Guy" than "Golden Boy" now, 35-year-old Oscar De La Hoya still has a childlike enthusiasm for the job.

"Hey, I love this. I love boxing. I love training," De La Hoya said, his eyes sparkling. "I see other guys in here, my sparring partners or other guys just training here, and I'll see them sitting down between rounds and drinking water.

"And I say to myself, 'What the heck is that?' I would never do that. If you're going to be a champion, train hard. After all these years, I still surprise myself how much I love this."