We won't get to see Oscar De La Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather, but we are getting the next best thing.

ESPN.com's Dan Rafael reported Wednesday that De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao will meet on December 6, possibly at the MGM Grand. The two are reportedly set to square off at 147 pounds. An official announcement is expected Thursday, according to ESPN.com.

All the talk of De La Hoya taking on Antonio Margarito or Miguel Cotto turned out to be a pipe dream. There was no way the "Golden Boy" was ready to take on two of boxing's most powerful punchers. Paul Williams? Although he's worthy, Williams doesn't have enough of a name for De La Hoya to risk ruining his legacy.

But De La Hoya saved face by taking on Pacquiao (47-3, 35 KOs). Pacquiao, who captured the WBC Lightweight title with a ninth-round TKO over David Diaz, is considered by many to be the sports best pound-for-pound fighter.

You're probably asking why De La Hoya decided to take on Pacquiao. The answer is simple. As great as Pacquiao has become, it will be the first time the Phillipine native will fight north of 135 pounds. In fact, his fight against Diaz was the first time he fought as a lightweight. In his eight fights prior to Diaz, Pacquiao fought as a super featherweight. Before that he fought as a featherweight, a super bantamweight and a flyweight.

De La Hoya on the other hand, hasn't fought below 150 pounds since scoring a fifth-round TKO over Arturo Gatti in 2001. De La Hoya should have a distinct advantage in size and power, which means the chance of a knockout is a real possiblity. That doesn't mean De La Hoya will enter the ring as the favorite or even win the fight, but it underscores how much De La Hoya values his legacy. A close loss to Pacquiao, who shouldn't be able to seriously hurt the bigger De La Hoya, will look a lot better than a beating at the hands of Margarito or Cotto.