Oscar De La Hoya vs Floyd Mayweather; More Drama than Daytime TV!
 By Benny Henderson Jr (April 25, 2007) Doghouse Boxing (Photo © HBO)
Podcasts, press conferences, TV commercials, an HBO four part episode mini series and an eleven city U.S. tour to boot, all the rock star status you can possibly handle wrapped up for just one night of boxing. While the world anxiously awaits for this super sized showdown to commence between the six time division champ ‘Golden Boy’ Oscar De La Hoya 38-4 (30) and the undefeated P4P ‘Pretty Boy’ Floyd Mayweather Jr. 37-0 (24) which will take place May 5th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV, fittingly on HBO Pay Per View 9 PM ET/ 6 PM PT, we get our daily dose of the drama that surrounds this over sized shindig.
After compiling up a stellar amateur career of 223-5, and earning himself a Gold Medal in the Barcelona Olympic Games, the California based boxer Oscar De La Hoya embarked on a professional boxing career that has expanded over a period of fourteen and a half years. The ‘Golden Boy’ fired out of the shoot in late 1992 earning himself five consecutive knockout victories before ever seeing the scorecards, which he won unanimously. In his time as a professional De La Hoya has electrified the fight fans and has a hit list of who’s who in the boxing world. Names such as John John Molina, Julio Cesar Chavez, Pernell Whitaker, Fernando Vargas and Hector Camacho has fallen victim to De La Hoya, Oscar has earned himself world championship hardware in six different weight classes in his run as a professional and at this time holds the WBC Light Middleweight title, which he will defend May 5th.
All though De La Hoya has had major success in and out of the ring, the fan favorite has had a blemish or two on his resume. De La Hoya banged out thirty-one consecutive victories before losing out a majority decision to Felix Trinidad back on September of 1999. He dropped two decisions to ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley; he won a controversial decision over Felix Sturm in June of ’04 and was stopped via body shot by Bernard Hopkins in 2004.
On the other hand, his opponent, Floyd Mayweather Jr. has never tasted defeat in his nearly ten years as a professional. A 1996 Bronze Medal winner in Atlanta, the ‘Pretty Boy’ compiled up a first-rate amateur record that ended with an 84-6 record. Making his way into the pros in the fall of 2006, Mayweather pounded out seventeen consecutive wins before stopping Genaro Hernandez earning himself his first world title which was the WBC Super featherweight title. In his time the fast fisted Floyd has defeated the likes of Angel Manfredy, Diego Corrales, Jose Luis Castillo and in his last outing out pointed Carlos Baldomir.
Now, what do we the boxing fans get when we throw De La Hoya and Mayweather Jr. in the ring together?
DRAMA!
Since the announcement of the super fight between the two highly decorated ring warriors Internet sites has been buzzing, newspapers has been over inked and the radio and television programs has exploded with too much noise on the exceedingly anticipated showdown, you cannot walk up to a water cooler at work without hearing about this upcoming bout. And to be honest about the whole ‘The World Awaits’ title, well…we do just that! We are vigorously awaiting this super sized smash ’em up show down, and the media seems to hang on to every who said what about who and where it took place, the fight world it loving the pre fight hoopla, it’s entertaining and most importantly it sells tickets!
But after all the pre fight shenanigans, antics and verbal wars between the two, what matters the most? Will the fight live up to the hype! You have people dishing out their hard earned money for this clash, so it dang well better live up to something! Could it be our Haggler-Hearnes of ’07, or will it implode right before our very eyes?
You have De La Hoya here, a solid boxer who is willing to brawl if need be, heavy hands. Mayweather, all though not the hardest hitting between the two PBF is a solid tactician with a good defense, has the hand speed to make this a very interesting night. Or a very boring one, could it be the names surpass the actual quality of this match-up? Will the bump up in weight; all though not a huge jump could it play a part in the out come? Will the Mayweather’s speed be the major factor in this bout? Will Floyd’s alligator mouth finally over ride his tadpole ass, or will he remain unbeaten sending Oscar home belt less and dejected? A lot of questions will be answered come fight night; until then…the fans are salivating over this future fight, and with out a doubt, the build up itself has more drama than daytime TV!
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