By Peter Lim
In the wake of the sensational and explosive Canelo-Kirkland affair, promoter Oscar De La Hoya resisted the temptation to gloat about his symbolic triumph over last weekend's dud that was (over)hyped as Fight of the Century. Baited by the media at the post-fight press conference to compare the thrill factor of Canelo's one-punch knockout against that of the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight, De La Hoya instinctively and sarcastically responded: "What fight?"
But deploying deft diplomatic footwork, the bilingual Olympic gold medalist and former five-division world titlist proceeded to skillfully sidestep any potential conflicts with the other power players in the game, while still giving himself and his team a tacit pat on the back for their dynamic match making. Top Rank's Bob Arum, he said, called to congratulate him for the barnburner of a showdown he had just staged at Minute Maid Park. And almost in the same breath, De La Hoya paid tribute to his former promoter and current business rival.
"You learn from the best," De La Hoya said.
"... Here at Golden Boy Promotions, we always have the fans in mind," De La Hoya added. "We always put the fans first with fan-friendly fights."
He also said, in the earlier press scrum, when asked if this made up for Mayweather-Pacquiao:
"Ten times, and then some."
And...
"Things happen for a reason. I’m glad that Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather got done. I believe June 6 is going to be very, very important — to all the boxing fans. If we continue on this pace, if we continue delivering the fans these type of fights, then Mayweather-Pacquiao, people will forget about"
