By Chris Robinson
On Tuesday, while at a media workout in conjunction with this weekend’s Amir Khan-Carlos Molina headlined-show at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, Golden Boy Promotions president Oscar De La Hoya spent some time speaking with members of the media about various topics in the sport.
The conversation eventually turned to the 2013 return of pound for pound stalwart Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Mayweather is scheduled to fight at the MGM Grand in May and September, with interim WBC welterweight titlist Robert Guerrero and WBC junior middleweight champion Saul Alvarez leading the list of candidates hoping to share the ring with him.
In De La Hoya’s eyes, Guerrero has more than proven himself in recent contests by storming up to the welterweight ranks and defeating the likes of Selcuk Aydin and Andre Berto in consecutive contests.
“Guerrero is a tough guy,” De La Hoya stated. “What he did, how he manhandled, in his last fight, Andre Berto. How he did that, I’m still feeling the punch. How he manhandled Andre Berto was incredible.
“Andre Berto is much stronger than Floyd Mayweather,” De La Hoya would add. “It’s going to be very interesting. But then again, you have Floyd Mayweather who is a master craftsman. A master boxer.”
Earlier this week, it was reported by Ben Thompson of FightHype.com that Mayweather is considering working with his father Floyd Sr. for his next fight, over concerns that his trainer and Uncle Roger isn’t on top of his game completely due to his battle with diabetes.
Having trained under Floyd Sr. for a lengthy part of his championship career, De La Hoya wasn’t shy when giving his take on his former coach’s skills.
“Let’s just put it this way,” De La Hoya said after a brief pause. “To me, to this day, Floyd Mayweather Sr. is the best trainer in the world, hands down.”
Asked to elaborate, De La Hoya offered up a view of what it’s like working with one of the sport’s most outspoken and engaging characters.
“The reason why I say that is, he gets you in great shape, which is part of the game plan,” said De La Hoya. “Then he teaches you the art of boxing. He teaches you the art of defense. He teaches you how to be aggressive, how to throw more jabs. He’s a trainer that if any young fighter wants to take his fight game to a whole new level, call Floyd Mayweather Sr. He’s the guy.”
