De La Hoya vs Mayweather, Jr.

My buddy recently sent me this article, stating that the Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya is going to finally face the oft-labeled "pound-for-pound" best fighter in the world, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (For what its worth, his moniker is "Pretty Boy" -- so basically we have potentially the biggest fight in the past decade and it's between the Boys Golden & Pretty? And we're sure they're gonna box and not hit eachother with their purses? And we're going to pay $75 on pay-per-view to see it? Hmmmm... this must be another of HBO's genius moves, you get half the audience thinking its the biggest non-heavy weight fight since Sugar Ray Leonard vs Thommy Hearns and the other half thinking it's an OZ spinoff featuring Toby and Chris... ironically, in the end I imagine both audiences will be happy with what they see in the ring that night.)


ANYWAYS, my buddy and I like boxing, he moreso than I. So I asked him to do a little write-up previewing the fight. Let's call him Tommy Law, since he is in law school at St Thomas right now. Here is his take...

Sweet science fans* need a 'prize fight' like a junky needs the good-ole uncut smack once in awhile. And De La Hoya just provided. Oscar says this fight's not about the $$, and one is entitled to think, "Hmm...he's getting an est. $25 mil; he must be full of shat."** But De la Hoya needs more money like the Google needs to advertise. He could've dodged this fight is the point I'm trying to make, and would've gotten paid $10-15 mil. to fight softer competition for as long as he wants to.

And maybe he should've. Those who saw Mayweather in his last fight vs. Baldomir saw a fighter who has the skills "to make other fighter's look old" - as Dark Starr likes to say. His combination of speed and rolling defense (w/ more speed) make it unlikely that any opponent (not just Oscar) would win on cards if it goes the distance. But fans also saw a lack of knock-out power, and maybe more bothersome was a lack of wanting the knockout as Mayweather appeared to tighten up late in the bout. And unlike Oscar, this fight is about the $$$. [editor's note: reported in the $10-15 mil range]

For Oscar fans (of which I am now a card-carrying member because it seems like he's paying boxing back a little w/ this one) the good news is in the last fight with Mayorga we saw the left-hook is can still knock someone on their ass in the first round. He showed good power with three knock downs in the fight, and looked technically very good--Huge caveat: when you're fighting the guy he did (a brawler) if you're not the one who looks 'technically much better,' you're in trouble. And that was Oscar's first fight in since 2004. Meaning: his second fight since 2004 + Mayweather Jr. = Cause For Concern. Another downside is De la Hoya will probably have to get a new trainer, since Mayweather Sr. has stated in every interview I've seen that he won't help anyone beat up his boy. (What a weird situation to be in?)***

Prediction: wait till the weigh-in, if De la Hoya comes in like a piece of iron (which apparently he's training already) then his chance (singular) for a later round K.O. becomes existent. I think both fighters are too smart to get knocked-out early.

Fact: this is by far the biggest fight that could've happened this year. A toast is in order.

*He means real boxing fans, I think.
**Shit
*** This is the most fascinating aspect to me. Basically Mayweathers Sr & Jr are estranged, don't talk, don't get along... but at least it sounds like pops still has enough commonsense to know you don't go training someone how to kick your son's ass. HBO will make a movie about this, I will probably watch it.****

Thanks Tommy, nice summary. Anytime you, or anyone else, has something to share with the Domestique community (of one... just me), please don't hesitate to submit your prose.

****Netflix it, more likely