theragingbull
05-09-2007, 06:27 AM
Fan favorite versus favored fighter
De La Hoya, Mayweather entertain only out of ring
"The World Awaits" was the name given to "the fight to save boxing" between "The Golden Boy" Oscar De La Hoya and "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather on May 5, 2007. After 12 rounds, boxing's future was further obfuscated.
The pro-De La Hoya crowd gave a standing ovation to the East Los Angeles native after the fight. Judges scored the bout 115-113 for De La Hoya and 116-112, 115-113 for Mayweather, giving the "Pretty Boy" a split decision. HBO analyst Max Kellerman expressed disbelief anyone could score the fight for De La Hoya.
The decision weighed heavily on what type of scoring would be done. If judges factored in aggressiveness, punch count, and crowd noise, De La Hoya won the fight. However, two out of the three judges emphasized punch accuracy and effectiveness-the traits Mayweather brought to the fight.
Mayweather refused to commit. He fought defensively the entire fight, only demonstrating offense in the last quatrain.
De La Hoya was trained by Freddy Roach-widely considered by boxing analysts as one of the best trainers in the world-for this fight. Roach advised De La Hoya to throw the jab between every round. He threw it scarcely. When he did, it opened up his body flurries and pushed Mayweather against the ropes, executing Roach's strategy. However, Mayweather clinched and circled away, rendering De La Hoya's efforts helpless.
"I showed you what I could do to one of the best fighters in our era," said Mayweather, Jr., who reportedly earned $10 million.
The pre-fight drama surpassed the in-fight drama. HBO aired four half-hour specials leading up to the fight. The programs, narrated by actor Liev Schreiber, chronicled the fighter's lives and training camps leading up to boxing's biggest fight since De La Hoya's 1999 bout against Felix Trinidad.
The special discussed De La Hoya's former trainer Floyd Mayweather, Sr., who left De La Hoya to be with his son's camp. His offspring, however, refused to be trained by his father. Instead, he gave the nod to his uncle and long-time trainer, Roger Mayweather.
Post-fight, Mayweather, Sr. said he believed De La Hoya won the fight.
"The Golden Boy," who promoted the fight, reportedly earned upward of $25 million. He said, "As a champion, I wanted to stop him." De La Hoya claimed Mayweather did not do enough to beat the champion. HBO announcer Larry Merchant asked De La Hoya why he stopped throwing his key punch, the left jab, which was integral to his game plan. "For some reason, it's just one of those nights," said De La Hoya.
De La Hoya had heavily expressed interest in retirement prior to the fight, but his post-fight interview indicated a new-found indecisiveness.
Conversely, Mayweather stated he will now retire.
The fight can aptly be called a super fight, but it cannot be called a "Sugar" Ray Leonard vs. Tommy "Hitman" Hearns of its time as announcer Larry Merchant alluded to before the fight. His broadcast partner Jim Lampley delivered an unprovoked jab at the sport of mixed martial arts post-fight: "Mixed Martial Arts is entertaining but what we saw in that ring was light years ahead." Kellerman disagreed, asserting mixed martial artists are also talented athletes.
With UFC fights drawing larger pay-per-view buys in 2006 than any year in boxing, the attack by Lampley and defense by Kellerman indicate boxing's uncertain future. The most talented boxer in Mayweather has retired. The most popular boxer in De La Hoya is on the verge of retirement. What will the world await next?
De La Hoya, Mayweather entertain only out of ring
"The World Awaits" was the name given to "the fight to save boxing" between "The Golden Boy" Oscar De La Hoya and "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather on May 5, 2007. After 12 rounds, boxing's future was further obfuscated.
The pro-De La Hoya crowd gave a standing ovation to the East Los Angeles native after the fight. Judges scored the bout 115-113 for De La Hoya and 116-112, 115-113 for Mayweather, giving the "Pretty Boy" a split decision. HBO analyst Max Kellerman expressed disbelief anyone could score the fight for De La Hoya.
The decision weighed heavily on what type of scoring would be done. If judges factored in aggressiveness, punch count, and crowd noise, De La Hoya won the fight. However, two out of the three judges emphasized punch accuracy and effectiveness-the traits Mayweather brought to the fight.
Mayweather refused to commit. He fought defensively the entire fight, only demonstrating offense in the last quatrain.
De La Hoya was trained by Freddy Roach-widely considered by boxing analysts as one of the best trainers in the world-for this fight. Roach advised De La Hoya to throw the jab between every round. He threw it scarcely. When he did, it opened up his body flurries and pushed Mayweather against the ropes, executing Roach's strategy. However, Mayweather clinched and circled away, rendering De La Hoya's efforts helpless.
"I showed you what I could do to one of the best fighters in our era," said Mayweather, Jr., who reportedly earned $10 million.
The pre-fight drama surpassed the in-fight drama. HBO aired four half-hour specials leading up to the fight. The programs, narrated by actor Liev Schreiber, chronicled the fighter's lives and training camps leading up to boxing's biggest fight since De La Hoya's 1999 bout against Felix Trinidad.
The special discussed De La Hoya's former trainer Floyd Mayweather, Sr., who left De La Hoya to be with his son's camp. His offspring, however, refused to be trained by his father. Instead, he gave the nod to his uncle and long-time trainer, Roger Mayweather.
Post-fight, Mayweather, Sr. said he believed De La Hoya won the fight.
"The Golden Boy," who promoted the fight, reportedly earned upward of $25 million. He said, "As a champion, I wanted to stop him." De La Hoya claimed Mayweather did not do enough to beat the champion. HBO announcer Larry Merchant asked De La Hoya why he stopped throwing his key punch, the left jab, which was integral to his game plan. "For some reason, it's just one of those nights," said De La Hoya.
De La Hoya had heavily expressed interest in retirement prior to the fight, but his post-fight interview indicated a new-found indecisiveness.
Conversely, Mayweather stated he will now retire.
The fight can aptly be called a super fight, but it cannot be called a "Sugar" Ray Leonard vs. Tommy "Hitman" Hearns of its time as announcer Larry Merchant alluded to before the fight. His broadcast partner Jim Lampley delivered an unprovoked jab at the sport of mixed martial arts post-fight: "Mixed Martial Arts is entertaining but what we saw in that ring was light years ahead." Kellerman disagreed, asserting mixed martial artists are also talented athletes.
With UFC fights drawing larger pay-per-view buys in 2006 than any year in boxing, the attack by Lampley and defense by Kellerman indicate boxing's uncertain future. The most talented boxer in Mayweather has retired. The most popular boxer in De La Hoya is on the verge of retirement. What will the world await next?