Yes, Whitaker is an old boxer w/ defensive wizardry who fought a bigger, taller, younger, and talented Oscar dela Hoya. Now, it is the reverse, a younger, offensive oriented Pacquiao fighting an older, slower, still talent laden dela Hoya. Ever heard of offense as the best defense. Can a weight drained Oscar neutralize Pac's speed and stamina? That remains to be seen. I don't think this is a question of whether dela Hoya will allow Pac to be competitive or not, Mr. Nostradamus. It is a matter of whether Oscar can last the whole fight without gasping for breath.
It has been proven many times before that Pac has the talent to wear down his opponents till the later rounds. Watch for it. :smoke