Left Out in the Cold: Losers in the Oscar Sweepstakes

By Dave Sholler

We’ve all seen it before. The Mega Millions lottery grows to gigantic proportions and everyone in the neighborhood lines up at the corner store to buy tickets. The store, normally void of patrons for most of the day, is packed until just hours before the winning numbers are announced. For the millionaire hopefuls, no line is too long. After all, it only takes one random combination of numbers to change lives forever.

Boxers Manny Pacquiao, Antonio Margarito, Miguel Cotto, Sergio Mora, Winky Wright, and Paul Williams all know the feeling of participating in a lottery. For the past few months, each has been mentioned as a candidate to fight Oscar De La Hoya in his grand finale on December 6 in Las Vegas. Some competitors, like Pacquiao, had more chances to win the sweepstakes based on a variety of Oscar-favoring factors. Others, like Margarito, Wright, and Williams, had a snowball’s chance in hell of landing the lucrative bout because they did not possess these Oscar-friendly assets. And a few, like Cotto and Mora, had other bouts and outcomes prevent them from ever becoming serious candidates.

As expected, the man with the most Oscar lottery tickets won the multi-million dollar fight. For a variety of reasons, Filipino world champion Manny Pacquiao managed to draw the lucky combination and was formally announced yesterday as De La Hoya’s pre-holiday opponent.

To no one’s surprise, forums, blogs, and fan sites across cyberspace have been inundated with backlash, most criticizing De La Hoya for choosing a match with a much smaller foe. Many wondered how and why the 135-pound Pac-man was deemed the best candidate for a welterweight fight, especially since 147-pound champions Margarito and Williams were both interested in the bout.

In the end, few answers may ever emerge from these discussions and criticisms. However, in reviewing Oscar’s back-and-forth statements over the past few months, one must wonder which of the aforementioned former and current world champions ever actually had a shot at De La Hoya. Furthermore, one must ponder whether “The Golden Boy” ever seriously considered a fighter like Williams. Or, did he just use the Williams name to infuriate another fighter he knew he’d never fight (hello “Tijuana Tornado”)? Did he throw Winky’s name in the discussion just to give one of his stablemates some free press?

In trying to solve these mysteries, we decided to take a final look at each of Oscar’s potential opponents. And in a sign of respect to the recently concluded Olympic Games, we’ve decided to give the final standings in the Oscar De La Hoya Sweepstakes. As you read on, see which fighters were worthy of medals and which should not have even dressed to participate. Let’s take a look at how each fighter fared in the completely outrageous, borderline unfair Oscar Mega Millions Lottery.

Sixth Place: Paul Williams
Threat to De La Hoya: High
Reason Why Considered: To dig at Margarito

Welterweight champion Paul “The Punisher” Williams saw his name surface late in the Oscar Sweepstakes, but the feasibility of the Aiken, SC native getting the bout was always non-existent. Simply put, Team Golden Boy used Paul’s name as a pawn in the war of words with Antonio Margarito. Oscar continually dismissed the chances of a bout with Margarito (arguably the most-deserving opponent for De La Hoya), stating that the Mexican fighter had more reasons to fight Williams.

As it turns out, neither got the fight. Instead, both got the shaft. Ultimately, Oscar’s suggestion that Margarito face Williams in a rematch of their July 2007 bout may become reality.

Fifth Place: Winky Wright
Threat to De La Hoya: Moderate
Reason Why Considered: To create a buzz

Those close to Winky informed BoxingScene that Golden Boy boss Richard Schaefer inquired about Wright’s interest in fighting De La Hoya. To be blunt, Winky was never a serious candidate despite Schaefer’s curiosity call. He was a “just in case” last resort. Nevertheless, Wright gets fifth place because Oscar would have taken a fight with the 36-year-old southpaw over a fight with the young lefty, Paul Williams.

Fourth Place: Miguel Cotto
Threat to De La Hoya: High
Reason Why Considered: Would have been a big draw should he have defeated Margarito

After Floyd Mayweather’s retirement and Ricky Hatton’s refusal, Miguel Cotto was deemed “next in line.” All the Puerto Rican star had to do was to win on July 26 against Margarito. Unfortunately, the former WBA welterweight champion couldn’t come through. Margarito pummeled Cotto in the later rounds en route to an 11th round stoppage victory. The chance to fight De La Hoya was as shattered as Cotto’s face on July 26.

Regardless of Cotto’s health after the fight, one must not forget Oscar’s proclamation that he wanted to fight the winner of Cotto-Margarito. However, Oscar being Oscar, he backed off of those remarks once he watched the bout. He didn’t want a piece of the man taking third place on this list.

Third Place: Antonio Margarito
Threat to De La Hoya: Extremely High
Reason Why Considered: His performance against Cotto

Remember when Oscar said he wanted to fight the winner of Cotto-Margarito? Looks like he changed his mind.

At the end of the day, Margarito gets the third-place nod because Oscar would have had few choices if he and Pacquiao couldn’t come to terms. Fans wouldn’t have flocked for De La Hoya-Williams, De La Hoya-Wright, or De La Hoya-Mora and that’s a huge problem for the money-minded Mexican-American fighter. Cash has become the sole reason Oscar fights and he would have been forced to fight Margarito if he wanted a payday equal to the Pac-man fight.

All variables aside, let’s make one thing abundantly clear: Margarito should have won this sweepstakes. Oscar ducked for cover when he saw the oncoming tornado.

Second Place: Sergio Mora
Threat to De La Hoya: Low
Reason Why Considered: Marketability

Mora was the quintessential low-risk, decent-reward candidate. Well-spoken, recognizable, and a solid boxer, Mora would have done enough to garner some PPV attention. He was Oscar’s “Plan B.”

Nevertheless, true boxing fans questioned whether Mora deserved the opportunity to fight De La Hoya. Coming off a big victory over Vernon Forrest, no one can deny that Mora’s progressing and has great potential. But if you match his resume against any of the aforementioned candidates, it isn’t even close. He’s just not ready. Plus, with a contractual obligation to fight Forrest in a WBC 154-pound title rematch next month, the chances of Mora landing a December bout with Oscar were always slim.

First Place: Manny Pacquiao
Threat to De La Hoya: Moderate
Reason Why Considered: Small Risk, Huge Payday

Oscar, a former middleweight, started his exodus plan with a tune-up bout against pint-sized Steve Forbes in May. He’ll finish with a fight against an equally undersized Manny Pacquiao in December. It makes a whole lot of sense, doesn’t it?

Ultimately, it all boils down to one thing with De La Hoya: Risk vs. Reward. At just over 5’6, Pacquiao will be making his first trek to 147-pounds after years of fighting well south of the welterweight limit. Although a big puncher in the lighter weight classes, Manny does not pose a huge threat to De La Hoya in the ring. He may be able to outbox Oscar based on speed and ring generalship, but fans shouldn’t expect a knockout victory.

Oscar knows he can hang with Manny. He knows the fans will hang with him, too.

Dave Sholler is featured analyst for sports radio stations across the country. He can be reached at shollerholla4@hotmail.com.