By Rick Reeno
After being away from the ring for almost two years, Oscar De La Hoya (37-4, 29 KOs) will return to the ring to challenge Ricardo "El Matador" Mayorga (28-5-1, 23 Kos) for his WBC junior middleweight title on Saturday, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Spending the better of the last two years as a promoter, Oscar prepares to lace up the gloves for battle. The most popular non-heavyweight boxer in pay-per-view history is still the biggest box office draw in the sport.
De La Hoya has won titles in six different weight divisions: 130, 135, 140, 147, 154 and 160. When he challenges Mayorga on Saturday night, he will be making his 28th appearance in a world championship match. The animosity is strong as both men almost came to blows at numerous press conferences and during the taping of a pre-fight video to hype the pay-per-view. Mayorga promises to knock De La Hoya out and has been verbally assaulting the Golden Boy at every corner in order to get inside his head.
The staff of BoxingScene.com comes to together to voice their opinions, predictions and strategies for the big fight.
Brent Matteo Alderson - I think it's going to be a real exciting fight and believe that even if Oscar was in his prime the bout would still pack excitement since Mayorga punches hard, is awkward, and has a good chin. Even though the Golden Boy hasn't fought in almost 20 months and turned 33 years old in February, I'm not as down on Oscar as a lot of other scribes.
In 1994, he weighed in at 128 3/4 for a fight and people think he's washed up because he lost to Hopkins and barely got by Felix Sturm. Those guys are decent sized Middleweights and Oscar is more of a Welterweight than a Junior Middleweight. That being said, Oscar has been training for this fight for a while and already looked svelte when I saw him in Las Vegas in February.
I think he's in shape and believe that his textbook skills will carry him to a hard fought victory after surviving some rocky moments. It will probably go the distance, but people forget that Oscar is a converted southpaw and has a lot of power in that left hook so a late stoppage is possible. I like Oscar and think he'll show some heart and erase some of the muck still surrounding his quit job against Hopkins.
De La Hoya by decision.
Ron Borges - I like De La Hoya by decision. Although his skills may be slipping and the layoff could be a problem, I think Mayorga has too many defensive holes and Oscar remains enough of a mover to win. A younger and more active De La Hoya would have stopped him.
De La Hoya by decision.
Tim Smith - Oscar is a better boxer and in this case it serves him well, if he can stay away from Mayorga's wildness. I believe De La Hoya's movement will frustrate Mayorga and make him wilder than ever. But he won't be able to land the KO shot.
De La Hoya by decision.
Hank Kaplan – Oscar is getting older and his body looks soft. Regardless, I heard from several guys on the inside that Mayorga did not train well for this fight. I like De La Hoya in the distance.
De La Hoya by decision.
Charles Jay – I don’t see Ricardo Mayorga winning this fight. De La Hoya is a different class of fighter in comparison to Mayorga.
De La Hoya by decision
Rusty Rubin – Mayorga is a perfect stationary target, Oscar will know where he is at all times. A perfect opponent for Oscar’s return, unless he gets caught with a lucky punch.
De La Hoya by decision.
TK Stewart - The more I think about this fight, the more I like Ricardo Mayorga's chances.
The bottom line is that Oscar De La Hoya will have been off for 19 months once the bell sounds to start round one. Oscar isn't getting any younger at age 33, and 154 pounds has never been his proper weight.
In my opinion, Oscar hasn't scored a win since he beat the hapless Yory Boy Campas three years ago in May 2003 ( I thought De La Hoya lost to Felix Sturm). Add to that the fact that De La Hoya is coming off the knockout loss to Hopkins and none of this looks good.
This fight reminds me a little bit of when Ray Leonard fought Terry Norris: An aging, highly successful, former multi-weight champion, coming off a long lay-off and dropping down in weight to take on a lesser known, decent puncher for the WBC Super Welterweight title. Leonard was 34 when he faced Norris and De La Hoya is 33. Mayorga is the current WBC champion just like Norris was at the time. De La Hoya has a record of 37-4 and Leonard had a record of 36-1-1. Leonard was a heavy favorite just as De La Hoya is against Mayorga. Both are also Olympic Gold Medal winners. There are many similarities between the two fights.
I think Mayorga has a great chance at an upset here. He is clearly in magnificent physical condition and I think, mentally, he's also very prepared for this challenge. Oscar hasn't looked good to me since his win over Fernando Vargas. Prizefighting is something that cannot be done part-time and for the last several years Oscar has only been a part time fighter. I like Mayorga to stop Oscar somewhere around the eighth or ninth round.
Mayorga by KO.
Adam Pollack - I'm going with Mayorga. The layoff, the gradual loss of sharpness even before the layoff, and going up against a hard punching very tough guy with underrated speed might be a bit more than Oscar can deal with at this stage.
Mayorga by decision.
Tom Donelson - Here are the factors against a De La Hoya victory.
1. He has not fought for nearly two years.
2. He was not impressive in his last two fights.
3. How hungry is De La Hoya after the millions made in the ring?
The factors that figure in a De La Hoya victory.
1. The first is that his last loss was to Bernard Hopkins, one of the best Middleweights in boxing history and his previous victory was against Felix Sturm in a close decision.
2. Mayorga has yet to knock out a Junior Middleweight and the last time he fought a elite fighter, he was easily dominated. ( I might mention that Trinidad defeated Mayorga after a long layoff.) De La Hoya has actually stopped a elite junior Middleweight in Vargas.
3. De La Hoya is a better boxer and a better fighter, all things considered.
4. Oscar knows that if he wins, a big money fight with Trinidad or Mayweather are around the corner. De La Hoya can also decide to retire with a championship belt. He has millions of reasons to win, and as a businessman, De La Hoya understands that he needs to win.
De La Hoya wins by knockout.
Alphonso Costello - Oscar De La Hoya's 19-month layoff will end this Saturday night and so will Ricardo Mayorga's WBC title reign. However, De La Hoya's conditioning or lack of passion may give Mayorga a "puncher's chance" to win the fight. Nevertheless, De La Hoya gores "El Matador" for the victory.
De La Hoya by decision.
Carlos Irusta - I pick De La Hoya by decision, he is an orthodox boxer, and Mayorga doesn't have any style at all. I’m skeptical about the physical condition of De La Hoya, especially because he is more a promoter than a boxer these days. Can he keep the eye of the tiger alive?
De La Hoya by decision.
Dr. Peter Edwards – I can’t see De La Hoya coming back strong after appearing to lose his last two bouts and being off for nearly 2 years. Mayorga is confident, wild and set on tearing Oscar apart. I see the upset happening in Las Vegas.
Mayorga by KO.
Ron Gallegos - The hype prior to the fight has grabbed my interest. Before hearing what each fighter had to say, I felt the fight was going to be fairly lackluster. My thoughts were that Oscar had run his course and should have retired even before the fight with Bernard Hopkins. Mayorga is rough, has machismo and a lethal punch, but I never felt that he was in the upper echelon.
After listening to Mayorga rip Oscar, his family, and his heritage, this may turn out to be a war after all. Mayorga took everything Trinidad had to give before he finally gave up the ghost. Mayorga called Oscar out with every negative he could muster so that the fight is a brawl and not a battle of finesse. If finesse is involved, Oscar wins. Mayorga has a shot if it's a brawl, but Fernando tried to brawl with Oscar and had minimal results. My prediction, Oscar’s class and finesse will surface one more time and Mayorga will fall in the 8th.
De La Hoya by KO.
Sammy Rozenberg – Neither fighter has looked great in their last couple of fights, but Oscar has definitely looked the better of the two. I believe De La Hoya will be up for this fight and ready to get himself another big win.
De La Hoya by decision.
Kevin Kincade - As of now, I’m picking Oscar to win this one; but not quickly as several are saying. If Trinidad could pound on Mayorga with his best shots and still not get him out of there until the 8th, no way Oscar’s knocking him cold. Of course, much of this depends on how much rust De La Hoya has acquired over his year and a half worth of inactivity. However, as crude as Mayorga is, I don’t see him beating Oscar. I, more often than not, favor “the boxer” on such occasions and see no reason to vary from my M.O. in this case. Oscar by late round TKO or UD. Mayorga will know he’s been in a fight.
De La Hoya by TKO or decision.
Jose Aguirre – Nineteen months of inactivity is not an even balance for the lack of skills that Ricardo Mayorga brings into this fight. De La Hoya is head and shoulders above "El Matador", and on May 6 he will show that he is hands and feet above him as well.
De La Hoya by decision.
Mike Indri - Much has been made about all the noise that "El Pollo" Mayorga has been talking, while it's just to further sell the fight and mask the fact that Mayorga is a very one-dimensional fighter.
Not possessing the raw power of Trinidad, but I see the same result from De La Hoya, who will outbox and outclass his limited opponent en route to a dominating unanimous decision or late round merciful stoppage. Oscar De La Hoya defeats Ricardo "El Pollo" Mayorga via late round TKO
De La Hoya by TKO.
Richard McManus - Oscar has an excellent chin and will probably not be drawn into the war that Mayorga craves. Mayorga's only hope is to win by stoppage or to seriously hurt Oscar, something no one (besides
Bernard Hopkins, and that was with a body shot) has been able to really do in the past.
Expect Oscar to exploit the massive holes in Mayorga's style and brutalize Mayorga over the distance.
De La Hoya by decision.
Jacquie Richardson - De La Hoya is the better boxer, but if someone like Hopkins can lay him out with one shot, Mayorga might also get lucky with a KO blow. In fact, he will be looking for Oscar's liver. If it goes beyond round 5, I will give it to Oscar. If Mayorga doesn't get lucky early, it’s not going to happen.
Mayorga by an early KO.
James Blears - As long as Oscar controls the needle, which has indeed got under his skin from Ricardo Mayorga taunts, he will win this fight by clinically stopping the lippy one, within six rounds.
Mayorga has heart, strength and bluster. But his overall crudity, will be cruelly be exposed by a grimly determined Oscar.
The sheer petty nastiness of Mayorga’s taunts and actions, which should have already cost him a heavy fine, have added a fraught element of danger to this fight. And we all hope that the referee will be stepping in one punch too early, to save an ashen Mayorga from really serious injury.
De La Hoya by KO.
Eric Rineer - He's past his prime, but I like the Golden Boy, Oscar De La Hoya, in the 9th round. Ricardo Mayorga's reputation as a tough guy is legit. He's got a great deal of heart but he's lacking the talent that De La Hoya possesses. I think Oscar will systematically destroy Ricardo, but Ricardo's pride will keep him standing for a while. "El Matador" is going to have to get out of the way as often as possible... I believe Oscar is coming with a full head of steam. He's taking those "mother" comments real seriously. If Ricardo can make this a street fight he could make things interesting. But I've got a hunch that Oscar's got a gameplan. He's too intelligent and too skillful to lose this fight.
De La Hoya by decision.
Andy Rivera - I think De La Hoya can withstand Mayorga's pressure, but I don't count his crazy antics and style out as far as getting De La Hoya to slip and make a mistake. De La Hoya seems motivated to take care of business. It all depends on how much hunger is left and if he still wants to fight rather then concentrate on promoting. I'll take De La Hoya, but I don't count Mayorga out.
De La Hoya by decision.
Jim Cawkwell - While contemplating this fight over the last two weeks I have entertained the possibility that Oscar de la Hoya may have reached the point in his career when his talent cannot uphold his ambition nor his reputation. Remember that although he is only 33-years-old, he is a time-worn veteran of 28 world championship fights; an incredible tally made even more so when you consider the many weights he has conquered and the consistent high standard of opponents he has faced.
I do not favor Mayorga based on his own abilities, but as we move closer to the fight, I feel that if there was ever a time when De La Hoya's illustrious career might catch up with him, it is now.
I would like to believe that the incentive given from Mayorga's trash-talking will bring the best out of De La Hoya and will drive the "Golden Boy" to stop Mayorga in the late rounds; however, there is also De La Hoya's disadvantage of being inactive for almost two years coming into this fight.
I doubt that De La Hoya will be able to overpower Mayorga as did Felix Trinidad, but if De La Hoya can get through the early rounds ring-rust and assert that fiery will of his with the jab, straight right hands and that dynamite left hook, I think he can make a mess of Mayorga in an entertaining fight en route to a unanimous twelve-round decision.
Larry Tornambe - How perplexing this fight is when you really look into it. De la Hoya is superior in hand speed and skill, while Mayorga is mostly a crazy man with a hard punch from an awkward style. The factors I am keying on are Mayorga's pressure and punching power. I still think the punch that felled Oscar in his fight with Hopkins was NOT a liver punch. It was left hook, that wasn't even turned over, to the ribs. I question Oscar's willingness to fight and FIGHT is what Mayorga will do to Oscar.
I really see Mayorga beating Oscar, but Oscar getting the decision if it goes that far. Otherwise Mayorga's wild style will make Oscar rethink his career choice at this point in his life.
Being pressed into a choice, I'll say Mayorga wins, but De la Hoya is announced the winner via a disputed decision.
De La Hoya by disputed decision.
Johnny Ortiz - If Mayorga in his last five fights was beaten twice and forced to go the distance with the aforementioned other three, in reality, what are his chances of beating a disciplined, high-quality fighter such as Oscar De La Hoya?
The only chance Ricardo has of winning is to land the greatest hard, wild shot he has ever thrown, the only chance Oscar has of losing is to become completely brain dead.
De La Hoya by decision.
Rick Reeno – In the last year, I went with my instincts instead of what my gut was telling me and the trend continues. As much as I like Mayorga in this fight, if Oscar even has half the boxing skills of the old De La Hoya, he should be able to box his way to victory. Even when taking his layoff into consideration and his age, I don’t see a fighter like Mayorga scoring the upset. Hopkins landed a few flush shots on De La Hoya and Oscar was able to take them well, which makes me believe that he could also take the hard punches of Mayorga. On the other hand, I think Mayorga can also take De La Hoya’s best punch.
The only scenario where I see Mayorga winning is if De La Hoya fades in the late rounds. De La Hoya has faded down the stretch against Trinidad, Mosley in the rematch, Sturm and Hopkins. He noticeably deteriorates as the fight goes on. If he fades in this fight and Mayorga is still pressuring him with power punches, he could be in serious trouble. The layoff may have rejuvenated his stamina or made it worse, we will find out very soon.
De La Hoya by decision.
Predictions Made By The Biggest Stars in The Game:
FELIX “TITO” TRINIDAD—Three-time World Champion (welterweight, junior middleweight & middleweight) with one of the highest knockout percentages in
boxing history at 81%.
PREDICTION—DE LA HOYA, DECISION
VIEW— "It's going to be a really hard fight between the two fighters. De La Hoya hasn't fought in a long time, but should dominate based upon his speed and intelligence in the ring. Oscar should win by decision, and leave the ring while he's on top."
VERNON FORREST—Former Undisputed Welterweight Champion who lost twice to Mayorga
PREDICTION—DE LA HOYA, DECISION WIN OR LATE ROUND STOPPAGE
VIEW—“Mayorga is very dangerous early. But De La Hoya is an exceptional boxer so he should be able to avoid trouble by staying away in the early rounds. On the other hand, De La Hoya tends to fade in the later rounds so he can’t wait too long to begin his own attack. I also think De La Hoya’s chin is highly underrated. He can take it. So if he has to mix it up, expect him to weather any storm and either stop Mayorga late or get the decision.”
“SUGAR” SHANE MOSLEY—Three-time World Champion with two wins over De La Hoya.
PREDICTION—DE LA HOYA DECISION
VIEW—“I think Oscar's speed is going to be the determining factor. Oscar needs to watch out for Mayorga's overhand right and he needs to keep his composure when Mayorga gets crazy."
“PRETTY BOY” FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR—Four-time world and currently rated boxing’s #1 rated pound-for-pound champion.
PREDICTION—DE LA HOYA, DECISION
VIEW—“De La Hoya is going to have to be smart, very smart throughout the fight. He’s the better boxer and should dominate for the entire 12 rounds. If he’s not smart, he could get himself in BIG trouble.”
ANTONIO “THE MAGIC MAN” TARVER—Light heavyweight champion
PREDICTION—MAYORGA
VIEW— "I truly believe Mayorga has a good chance. Oscar has been inactive and I think he’s trying to do the Trinidad blueprint – come back and get a win over a credible guy. But I don’t think De La Hoya has that kind of punching power. He has the speed and quickness to outbox Mayorga, but I think Mayorga is going to put pressure on him and he’s got that wild side – no matter how bad he’s being beat, he’s trying to knock your head off and he won’t quit. De La Hoya’s not used to that pressure. I think Mayorga coming in as an underdog is a good bet. I like Mayorga in an upset."
BERNARD “THE EXECUTIONER” HOPKINS
PREDICTION—DE LA HOYA, LATE ROUND TKO
VIEW—“De La Hoya is all around the better boxer and fighter. He is going to make Mayorga look amateurish. Oscar has to be aware of Mayorga’s brawling tactics, fight smart and stick to his own game plan. He cannot get caught up in the emotion of Mayorga’s trashtalking either.
HASIM “THE ROCK” RAHMAN—WBC Heavyweight Champion
PREDICTION—DE LA HOYA, LATE ROUND STOPPAGE
VIEW—“I think De La Hoya is going to be able to wear Mayorga down and stop him late. The body attack by De La Hoya is going to be too much for him and will have a big effect on him as the fight goes on. I also think De La Hoya is going to catch him in the later rounds with his text book left hook, a punch Mayorga has been susceptible to during his career. Against Oscar, Mayorga’s wildness will be totally ineffective.”
SERGEI “WHITE WOLF” LIAKHOVICH—WBO Heavyweight Champion of the World
PREDICTION—MAYORGA 9TH ROUND KO
VIEW—“I'm expecting this be a tough match for both fighters. My feeling is that if Mayorga can land power shots, I favor him. If it goes to the judges, I would favor Oscar.”
LENNOX LEWIS—Former Heavyweight Champion of the World
PREDICTION—DE LA HOYA UNANIMOUS DECISION
VIEW—“De La Hoya is the seasoned and composed boxer and he knows how to deal with Mayorga’s style. Mayorga can have an erratic and unpredictable style, which will make for great drama in the first few rounds, but Oscar’s composer will make him victorious.”
JERMAIN “BAD INTENTIONS” TAYLOR—Middleweight champion
PREDICTION—DE LA HOYA, DECISION
VIEW—"This is going to be an interesting fight, Oscar who has not fought in over a year and Ricardo is so unpredictable. I think this fight will go the distance with a lot of action , but I think Oscar will come away with the victory because of his boxing skills and he has a way at getting up for big fights and this is a big fight for him."
WINKY WRIGHT—Former junior middleweight champion
PREDICTION—TOSS-UP
VIEW—“I think this fight’s a toss-up. Oscar has the skills and ability, so he should win. But Mayorga's power and constant pressure, his ability to absorb a lot and Oscar being inactive for almost 2 years, gives Mayorga an edge. I just think it can go either way.”
LUIS COLLAZO—WBA Welterweight Champion
PREDICTION—MAYORGA, 10TH ROUND KO FROM A BODYSHOT
VIEW: “De La Hoya's style has changed for the worse since he started training with Floyd Mayweather Sr. He doesn't move and throw combinations the way he used to. Mentally, I see Mayorga getting stronger and stronger, and if Oscar hasn't got it yet, he's gonna get it on May 6. Mayorga fights better against people he truly dislikes, and he doesn't like Oscar at all. I see Mayorga breaking him down with pressure and body work. When Mayorga hits him right on the nose, let's see how De La Hoya responds to that. My guess is, he's not going to like that."
RICKY “HITMAN” HATTON
PREDICTION—DE LA HOYA DECISION
VIEW—“I’m really looking forward to this fight. When I was in Vegas before Christmas, I met Oscar and he’s a great guy and what a fighter. “I think that Oscar will win this fight. Mayorga is very tough, physically, though, and it will probably go the 12 round distance. “I just think Oscar has too much for Mayorga in speed and boxing (technique). But Oscar has been out of the ring for quite a while and that may have a bearing on his performance. But I am still going with Oscar winning on points.”
