Squirrel
12-16-2006, 03:29 PM
By Mark Vester
We all knew that minute Oscar De La Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. was signed for May 5, it was going to turn into a family affair.
De La Hoya is trained by his opponent's father, Floyd Mayweather, Sr., making the bout one of the more unique events in boxing history. Mayweather, Jr. is trained by his uncle, Roger Mayweather, who is also his father's brother.
When the bout was first signed, there was some doubt that Mayweather, Sr. was going to train De La Hoya. In the past he was vocal about not training Oscar to beat his son. Over the years, the relationship between the Mayweathers has grown hostile, and that's putting it nicely. During various media interviews, insults, personal jabs and vicious comments have been traded often by both Mayweathers.
The bad blood with his son has changed his position on the bout, which he initially urged De La Hoya not to take because he did not want to see his son get knocked out.
In an interview with the Arizona Daily Star , De La Hoya said that Floyd Sr. looked him right in the eyes and promised to train him how to beat his son.
"He looked into my eyes and he told me, 'I'll train you to beat my son; I'll train you to beat Floyd Mayweather Jr.,'" De La Hoya said. "As odd as that sounds, he will do it. I'm still gathering my thoughts and thinking about it."
De La Hoya is still not sold on the idea of Mayweather, Sr. being in his corner. He doesn't want to be the reason for breaking up the Mayweather family, and he wants to make sure that Mayweather Sr. is 100% behind the idea of training him to knock his son out.
"One thing I don't want to do is get in between family. That's not in my nature. Another thing is, I have to make sure that Floyd Sr. is gonna be 100 percent with me, passionate and right there. If he's not, then I can't afford to have him in my corner. This is my life. I have to be ready."
De La Hoya also revealed that he is running 10 miles at a time in order to prepare for Mayweather, and sees footwork as the key to beat him. He views Mayweather as the biggest fight of his career. Once the month of March comes around, De La Hoya said that he will put his promotional duties with Golden Boy on the shelf, as he begins the final stages of his training camp.
"No distractions whatsoever. I can say that I'm treating it as the biggest fight of my life," he said. "It's motivation. It's oozing out of me right now."
We all knew that minute Oscar De La Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. was signed for May 5, it was going to turn into a family affair.
De La Hoya is trained by his opponent's father, Floyd Mayweather, Sr., making the bout one of the more unique events in boxing history. Mayweather, Jr. is trained by his uncle, Roger Mayweather, who is also his father's brother.
When the bout was first signed, there was some doubt that Mayweather, Sr. was going to train De La Hoya. In the past he was vocal about not training Oscar to beat his son. Over the years, the relationship between the Mayweathers has grown hostile, and that's putting it nicely. During various media interviews, insults, personal jabs and vicious comments have been traded often by both Mayweathers.
The bad blood with his son has changed his position on the bout, which he initially urged De La Hoya not to take because he did not want to see his son get knocked out.
In an interview with the Arizona Daily Star , De La Hoya said that Floyd Sr. looked him right in the eyes and promised to train him how to beat his son.
"He looked into my eyes and he told me, 'I'll train you to beat my son; I'll train you to beat Floyd Mayweather Jr.,'" De La Hoya said. "As odd as that sounds, he will do it. I'm still gathering my thoughts and thinking about it."
De La Hoya is still not sold on the idea of Mayweather, Sr. being in his corner. He doesn't want to be the reason for breaking up the Mayweather family, and he wants to make sure that Mayweather Sr. is 100% behind the idea of training him to knock his son out.
"One thing I don't want to do is get in between family. That's not in my nature. Another thing is, I have to make sure that Floyd Sr. is gonna be 100 percent with me, passionate and right there. If he's not, then I can't afford to have him in my corner. This is my life. I have to be ready."
De La Hoya also revealed that he is running 10 miles at a time in order to prepare for Mayweather, and sees footwork as the key to beat him. He views Mayweather as the biggest fight of his career. Once the month of March comes around, De La Hoya said that he will put his promotional duties with Golden Boy on the shelf, as he begins the final stages of his training camp.
"No distractions whatsoever. I can say that I'm treating it as the biggest fight of my life," he said. "It's motivation. It's oozing out of me right now."