We are less then two weeks away from a fight that we thought we would never see Oscar De La Hoya take, a fight at 160 pounds against the unified middleweight king Bernard Hopkins. BoxingScene got a few moments of Oscar's time to get his thoughts as the fight date draws closer.
BoxingScene: Oscar, Hopkins has said in various interviews that he is looking for a knock out in this fight. He thinks that if he doesnt knock you out, the judges will look to rob him. Do you think that his strategy will benefit you?
De La Hoya: I know that he is going to look for the knock out, that he will try to rough me up. Ive studied him like a book and I see flaws, I see the necessary things that I will have to do in order to win this fight. Hopkins wants to crown his legacy by being the guy to knock me out but he wont be able to do it because I won't let it happen. Fernando Vargas came into our fight with the same gameplan and he was the one who got knocked out.
BoxingScene: So you feel that you can hurt Hopkins or get a possible KO win?
De La Hoya: I have no doubt in my mind that I can hurt Hopkins. I will utilize my speed in this fight like I have never before in my career. My main focus will be speed and wearing him down. Once we get in the late rounds, I think I can hurt him and I could even stop him.
BoxingScene: I take it that your not letting all the underdog talk get to your head?
De La Hoya: I love it, the role of the underdog just motivates me even more. I will be in the best shape of my life for this fight. I will be so prepared for this fight physically and mentally that I don't think there is anyway that Hopkins can beat me. My legacy will be fulfilled on September 18th.
