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He coasted the last 4-5 rounds against Tito Trinidad and gave away a sure fire legacy cementing victory.
Do you think Ray Leonard wouldnt have found away to somehow steel a round late to pull out the victory even if his legs were dead tired as Oscar's were...I think Ray would have found a way.
I cant blame Oscar for his effort against Sugar Shane in the first fight-all time greats lose, yes they do just ask Ali and Ray Robinson, Oscar put forth a helluva an effort he just ran into the best version of Shane Mosely anyone had ever seen...but being critical he did throw away a very nice sized first half lead letting Mosely clean up the championship rounds...does anyone think that Ray Leonard would have been washed out like this down the stretch? I dont.
The Sturm fight does not bother me like it does some-he was clearly looking past Felix and obviously in the worst shape of his career-I think he lost but either way I dont hold this against him at all-maybe Im in the minority but it was clear that an in shape Oscar would have had little trouble with Sturm.
Then there was the showdown with Hopkins...sure Oscar was fighting well for 6-7 rounds or should I say fighting competively but Oscar never really flurried to grab a round, he never really gave it that extra effort during any portion of that fight that made you think he wants to win at all costs. Hopkins was certainly the bigger man in that ring but was he really better then Oscar?
Ray Leonard would have found a way to shoe shine Bernard on a couple of occassions and made it far more interesting...yes he got caught in the side and ultimately stopped but it appeared that Oscar had really kind of given up winning that fight a round before that punch landed even though he very competitive...again I cant see a Ray Leonard not finding a way even if he was outsized and outmatch to make it close all the way to the end and maybe even pull it out-after all it did not appear Bernard was the better fighter, just the bigger fighter.
Rewind back to last Saturday, the fight is basically an even fight thru 6, Oscar appears to have the edge when he lets that veteran jab of his fly-the jab is clearly the only punch in Oscar's tool bag that he can hit his lightning fast opponent with and what happens? Oscar puts the jab in his pocket leaving most fight fans wondering what the **** is the 6 division champ doing?
Even Oscar had no answer for it other then to blush about how well he had his jab pumping during the first portion of the fight-why didnt he continue landing the only punch he had available to land? Not even Oscar can tell you that.
Does anyone think that Ray Leonard wouldnt have understood where his strength against a fighter like Floyd was and where his weakness was? I do.
What am I saying, Why am I bringin up Ray Leonard every chance I get...surely I dont believe Oscar Delahoya is as great as Ray Leonard do I ...of course not so here's exactly what Im saying.
Ray never came up short when it mattered, all time great dont come up short when it mattered and the frustrating thing for Delahoya fans like myself is that Oscar has always been so damn close, he was right there against Tito and let it go, he faded in both fights blowing leads against Shane, he just seemed happy to be competitive against B-Hop and he fought like a wide eyed kid down the stretch against Floyd forgetting what seemd to be common knowledge...throw the ****ing jab.
Ray Leonard would have taken Oscar's dead tired legs and his corners "stay away" advice and shoe shined the **** out of Tito in of of the remaining championships rounds and found away to avoid any controversey witha clear cut W.
Ray Leonard with Oscar's same gifts could have found a way to bother Hopkins even more then Oscar did, he could have found away to counteract the rounds 8 and 9 where Hopkins appeared to be gettign stronger...win or lose Ray Leonard with Oscar's ability would have found away to make that a toss up come decision time.
Oscar is a great fighter you dont win all the trinquets in all the weight classes he did and not be great but he can never ever be considered an all time great because an all time great is the complete package, the real deal and Sugar Ray Leonard although Im not one of his biggest fans would have found a way, he would have found away not to be great but to be an all timer with the exact same stuff that made Oscar just great...Oscar has just come up short too many times when it really mattered, all time great simply find away...
It was all there for Oscar, he just has never been able to do as he did against Ike...close the ****ing show....too bad.
Do you think Ray Leonard wouldnt have found away to somehow steel a round late to pull out the victory even if his legs were dead tired as Oscar's were...I think Ray would have found a way.
I cant blame Oscar for his effort against Sugar Shane in the first fight-all time greats lose, yes they do just ask Ali and Ray Robinson, Oscar put forth a helluva an effort he just ran into the best version of Shane Mosely anyone had ever seen...but being critical he did throw away a very nice sized first half lead letting Mosely clean up the championship rounds...does anyone think that Ray Leonard would have been washed out like this down the stretch? I dont.
The Sturm fight does not bother me like it does some-he was clearly looking past Felix and obviously in the worst shape of his career-I think he lost but either way I dont hold this against him at all-maybe Im in the minority but it was clear that an in shape Oscar would have had little trouble with Sturm.
Then there was the showdown with Hopkins...sure Oscar was fighting well for 6-7 rounds or should I say fighting competively but Oscar never really flurried to grab a round, he never really gave it that extra effort during any portion of that fight that made you think he wants to win at all costs. Hopkins was certainly the bigger man in that ring but was he really better then Oscar?
Ray Leonard would have found a way to shoe shine Bernard on a couple of occassions and made it far more interesting...yes he got caught in the side and ultimately stopped but it appeared that Oscar had really kind of given up winning that fight a round before that punch landed even though he very competitive...again I cant see a Ray Leonard not finding a way even if he was outsized and outmatch to make it close all the way to the end and maybe even pull it out-after all it did not appear Bernard was the better fighter, just the bigger fighter.
Rewind back to last Saturday, the fight is basically an even fight thru 6, Oscar appears to have the edge when he lets that veteran jab of his fly-the jab is clearly the only punch in Oscar's tool bag that he can hit his lightning fast opponent with and what happens? Oscar puts the jab in his pocket leaving most fight fans wondering what the **** is the 6 division champ doing?
Even Oscar had no answer for it other then to blush about how well he had his jab pumping during the first portion of the fight-why didnt he continue landing the only punch he had available to land? Not even Oscar can tell you that.
Does anyone think that Ray Leonard wouldnt have understood where his strength against a fighter like Floyd was and where his weakness was? I do.
What am I saying, Why am I bringin up Ray Leonard every chance I get...surely I dont believe Oscar Delahoya is as great as Ray Leonard do I ...of course not so here's exactly what Im saying.
Ray never came up short when it mattered, all time great dont come up short when it mattered and the frustrating thing for Delahoya fans like myself is that Oscar has always been so damn close, he was right there against Tito and let it go, he faded in both fights blowing leads against Shane, he just seemed happy to be competitive against B-Hop and he fought like a wide eyed kid down the stretch against Floyd forgetting what seemd to be common knowledge...throw the ****ing jab.
Ray Leonard would have taken Oscar's dead tired legs and his corners "stay away" advice and shoe shined the **** out of Tito in of of the remaining championships rounds and found away to avoid any controversey witha clear cut W.
Ray Leonard with Oscar's same gifts could have found a way to bother Hopkins even more then Oscar did, he could have found away to counteract the rounds 8 and 9 where Hopkins appeared to be gettign stronger...win or lose Ray Leonard with Oscar's ability would have found away to make that a toss up come decision time.
Oscar is a great fighter you dont win all the trinquets in all the weight classes he did and not be great but he can never ever be considered an all time great because an all time great is the complete package, the real deal and Sugar Ray Leonard although Im not one of his biggest fans would have found a way, he would have found away not to be great but to be an all timer with the exact same stuff that made Oscar just great...Oscar has just come up short too many times when it really mattered, all time great simply find away...
It was all there for Oscar, he just has never been able to do as he did against Ike...close the ****ing show....too bad.
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