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Y! Sports Reader Q & A: Oscar De La Hoya
By Yahoo! Sports Staff
September 11, 2007
After all these years, Oscar De La Hoya remains one of boxing's most popular stars. His May 5 match against Floyd Mayweather shattered all sports pay-per-view records with more than two million buys. And in case we needed any more proof the fighter is beloved, we were flooded with questions from readers. So here are Oscar's responses, in our latest Yahoo! Sports reader Q & A.
ON NETWORK TV?
There has been much talk of boxing not being relevant any more due to the majority of the sport's biggest stars only fighting on pay-per-view or HBO/Showtime. As the sport's most recognizable star and also the head of one of its fastest growing promotional en******, do you have plans on bringing a Golden Boy Promotions card to network television? I think this would be a good move. Although you'd make more money on HBO, you'd also have the opportunity to expose your talent like Daniel Ponce de Leon to a bigger audience, thus creating more stars and building them a larger fan base?
Daniel K.
Oscar De La Hoya: We are always looking for ways to bring the best in boxing to the fans who love the sport and trying to bring boxing back to network television is always part of the discussion
.
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KEEPING DESIRE
Please explain the toughest hurdles to being able to maintain the desire to box.
Tommy Ayers
Oscar De La Hoya: The older I get the harder it gets but I love the sport and as long as I feel I can still be competitive at the highest level in the sport, my desire outweighs the hurdles.
.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BARRERA-MARQUEZ REMATCH?
Will there be a rematch between either Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez or between Marquez and Manny Pacquiao? The winner of the Barrera-Pacquiao fight on Oct. 6 should decide that. Also, will you ever fight in Los Angeles again?
Eloy Moncada
Oscar De La Hoya: The idea of a Barrera and Marquez rematch is definitely something I could see happening in the future. Unfortunately, Marquez won't be able to fight Sept. 15 and we will see what happens when Barrera fights Pacquaio on Oct. 6. After that, we will see what fight can be put together for them.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOXING'S RISK
Oscar, how do you feel about the safety of boxing? Many studies have shown that boxing can cause severe brain damage which leads to problems like Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's. Do you think it is a good idea for youth or people of any age to get involved in a sport that could cause them health problems in the future?
Mazen
Oscar De La Hoya: Boxing is a sport like many other sports in that there are risks when you compete at the professional level. There are obvious risks from getting punches thrown at you, but I think the sport and the commissions are always looking out for the safety of the fighters knowing the risks involved. I think any kid could try boxing. It's a fun, competitive sport that builds character, discipline and perseverance.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW ABOUT THE MEDIA?
Aren't you fed up with the sports media's negative criticism, especially from Max Kellerman after the Mayweather fight? When he called the boxing fans blind and basically bad mouthed the boxing fans who all saw the same thing he did during that fight, that upset me. The fans are who keeps boxing on top and he should never talk down to me.
Daniel Patino
Oscar De La Hoya: The members of the boxing media can be very funny sometimes. You have to realize that most of them have a deep-rooted passion for the sport and this passion can sometimes lead to emotional comments that might not be appropriate at the time. Max Kellerman is a true follower of the sport and his passion fuels his commentating which, in his mind, is the truth of what he saw. Boxing brings out the best emotions in anyone who loves the sport, including the fans.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FAIR JUDGING
How do you feel about some of those close fights you've lost based on the judges scorecards? Do you feel there was some foul play going on, or some underlying bias against you because of your success as a promoter?
Jason Castellanos
Oscar De La Hoya: I don't think it has anything to do with bias towards me as a fighter. First and foremost I go into the ring with one thing on my mind and that is to win. I cannot be concerned with the judges because they are out of my control. Sometimes they see the fight differently and the outcome is not what I had thought or hoped for. But boxing is a sport judged by the naked eye and the judges score it the way they see it. I feel very respected by my sport so other than the judges doing the best they can to score the fight fairly, I don't think it is any more than that
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BUSY FALL
Of the upcoming fights that you will be promoting, which one are you more anxious about watching? I personally can't wait for the Mosley versus Cotto and Barrera versus Pacquiao. I will be rooting for Mosley and Barrera to come out on top!
Tiger Madeda
Oscar De La Hoya: I am excited about all the fighters this fall – Mosley versus Cotto, Barrera versus Pacquiao and the season finale, Mayweather vs Hatton. They are all competitive fights with the best in the sport competing against each other. Can't ask for much better and I can't wait to see them all.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEXT GREAT CHAMP
Any promoter's dream would be to find the next Oscar De La Hoya. Who do you see as having the best chance of becoming the next great fighter?
Scott S.
Oscar De La Hoya: I think there are a lot of great fighters on the horizon and I also believe there are several "Oscar De La Hoyas" in the boxing gyms right now. Young kids learning the art of boxing who are as good as the last generation and this generation of fighters. Boxing will always have great champions and I think Golden Boy Promotions is going to uncover the next hidden treasure for the sport
.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FIGHT FOR TROOPS
Many times instead of looking at fights I look at the news about the war in Iraq. When I was there, we always talked about fights. I was in Iraq when the WWE was there. A lot of the troops loved it. It's just an idea, but why don't you host a Golden Boy Promotions event overseas? Training out there is hard with the heat over 100 degrees at times. I know one thing is for sure and that is you will have that many more fans and respect from people all around the world.
Claudio Torres
Oscar De La Hoya: It would be great to bring a fight to the troops and we have actually discussed if there was a way it could be feasible to make it happen. It's certainly not out of the question
.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BARRERA-PACMAN FIGHT
Pacquiao-Barrera II is on Oct. 6 and I'm sure everyone can't wait to see that one. My question to you is do you think this fight will be fair considering what Pacman did to Barrera in their first meeting? With that being said, Pacman in my opinion is a much better fighter now than he was then. I feel he's ready for a title shot. What do you think?
Ryan Swanson
Oscar De La Hoya: I think Barrera is training hard for this fight and wants to avenge his loss no matter how long ago it was. Also Barrera has already stated he is doing this for all of the Mexican fighters that Pacquaio has beaten and for the whole country of Mexico. That's a tall order so I think you are going to see an extremely exciting fight. I think Barrera is going to surprise a lot of people in that fight.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BUSY OSCAR
You've said that you will be fighting twice in 2008. You've also said that there is a big possibility that you will be fighting at welterweight for both of those fights. You've ruled out fights with Mosley, Cotto and Mayweather so far. So, will you be trying to fight for a title at all and if so who would you be looking to fight? Also, I know you have signed a lot of good, young up and comers recently. Who do you feel has the potential to become a star fighter in the next couple of years?
Luis
Oscar De La Hoya: I hope to fight as much as I can before I retire and fighting twice in 2008 would be a great accomplishment for me. I want to fight at welterweight for the rest of my career and depending what fights are presented that is what I would like to do. Titles are always something to fight for and if it is a fight that is attractive to me, I will fight for a title. Golden Boy has a lot of great fighters on the horizon and you can go to our website at www.goldenboypromotions.com to see who they are.
By Yahoo! Sports Staff
September 11, 2007
After all these years, Oscar De La Hoya remains one of boxing's most popular stars. His May 5 match against Floyd Mayweather shattered all sports pay-per-view records with more than two million buys. And in case we needed any more proof the fighter is beloved, we were flooded with questions from readers. So here are Oscar's responses, in our latest Yahoo! Sports reader Q & A.
ON NETWORK TV?
There has been much talk of boxing not being relevant any more due to the majority of the sport's biggest stars only fighting on pay-per-view or HBO/Showtime. As the sport's most recognizable star and also the head of one of its fastest growing promotional en******, do you have plans on bringing a Golden Boy Promotions card to network television? I think this would be a good move. Although you'd make more money on HBO, you'd also have the opportunity to expose your talent like Daniel Ponce de Leon to a bigger audience, thus creating more stars and building them a larger fan base?
Daniel K.
Oscar De La Hoya: We are always looking for ways to bring the best in boxing to the fans who love the sport and trying to bring boxing back to network television is always part of the discussion
.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
KEEPING DESIRE
Please explain the toughest hurdles to being able to maintain the desire to box.
Tommy Ayers
Oscar De La Hoya: The older I get the harder it gets but I love the sport and as long as I feel I can still be competitive at the highest level in the sport, my desire outweighs the hurdles.
.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BARRERA-MARQUEZ REMATCH?
Will there be a rematch between either Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez or between Marquez and Manny Pacquiao? The winner of the Barrera-Pacquiao fight on Oct. 6 should decide that. Also, will you ever fight in Los Angeles again?
Eloy Moncada
Oscar De La Hoya: The idea of a Barrera and Marquez rematch is definitely something I could see happening in the future. Unfortunately, Marquez won't be able to fight Sept. 15 and we will see what happens when Barrera fights Pacquaio on Oct. 6. After that, we will see what fight can be put together for them.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOXING'S RISK
Oscar, how do you feel about the safety of boxing? Many studies have shown that boxing can cause severe brain damage which leads to problems like Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's. Do you think it is a good idea for youth or people of any age to get involved in a sport that could cause them health problems in the future?
Mazen
Oscar De La Hoya: Boxing is a sport like many other sports in that there are risks when you compete at the professional level. There are obvious risks from getting punches thrown at you, but I think the sport and the commissions are always looking out for the safety of the fighters knowing the risks involved. I think any kid could try boxing. It's a fun, competitive sport that builds character, discipline and perseverance.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW ABOUT THE MEDIA?
Aren't you fed up with the sports media's negative criticism, especially from Max Kellerman after the Mayweather fight? When he called the boxing fans blind and basically bad mouthed the boxing fans who all saw the same thing he did during that fight, that upset me. The fans are who keeps boxing on top and he should never talk down to me.
Daniel Patino
Oscar De La Hoya: The members of the boxing media can be very funny sometimes. You have to realize that most of them have a deep-rooted passion for the sport and this passion can sometimes lead to emotional comments that might not be appropriate at the time. Max Kellerman is a true follower of the sport and his passion fuels his commentating which, in his mind, is the truth of what he saw. Boxing brings out the best emotions in anyone who loves the sport, including the fans.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FAIR JUDGING
How do you feel about some of those close fights you've lost based on the judges scorecards? Do you feel there was some foul play going on, or some underlying bias against you because of your success as a promoter?
Jason Castellanos
Oscar De La Hoya: I don't think it has anything to do with bias towards me as a fighter. First and foremost I go into the ring with one thing on my mind and that is to win. I cannot be concerned with the judges because they are out of my control. Sometimes they see the fight differently and the outcome is not what I had thought or hoped for. But boxing is a sport judged by the naked eye and the judges score it the way they see it. I feel very respected by my sport so other than the judges doing the best they can to score the fight fairly, I don't think it is any more than that
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BUSY FALL
Of the upcoming fights that you will be promoting, which one are you more anxious about watching? I personally can't wait for the Mosley versus Cotto and Barrera versus Pacquiao. I will be rooting for Mosley and Barrera to come out on top!
Tiger Madeda
Oscar De La Hoya: I am excited about all the fighters this fall – Mosley versus Cotto, Barrera versus Pacquiao and the season finale, Mayweather vs Hatton. They are all competitive fights with the best in the sport competing against each other. Can't ask for much better and I can't wait to see them all.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEXT GREAT CHAMP
Any promoter's dream would be to find the next Oscar De La Hoya. Who do you see as having the best chance of becoming the next great fighter?
Scott S.
Oscar De La Hoya: I think there are a lot of great fighters on the horizon and I also believe there are several "Oscar De La Hoyas" in the boxing gyms right now. Young kids learning the art of boxing who are as good as the last generation and this generation of fighters. Boxing will always have great champions and I think Golden Boy Promotions is going to uncover the next hidden treasure for the sport
.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FIGHT FOR TROOPS
Many times instead of looking at fights I look at the news about the war in Iraq. When I was there, we always talked about fights. I was in Iraq when the WWE was there. A lot of the troops loved it. It's just an idea, but why don't you host a Golden Boy Promotions event overseas? Training out there is hard with the heat over 100 degrees at times. I know one thing is for sure and that is you will have that many more fans and respect from people all around the world.
Claudio Torres
Oscar De La Hoya: It would be great to bring a fight to the troops and we have actually discussed if there was a way it could be feasible to make it happen. It's certainly not out of the question
.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BARRERA-PACMAN FIGHT
Pacquiao-Barrera II is on Oct. 6 and I'm sure everyone can't wait to see that one. My question to you is do you think this fight will be fair considering what Pacman did to Barrera in their first meeting? With that being said, Pacman in my opinion is a much better fighter now than he was then. I feel he's ready for a title shot. What do you think?
Ryan Swanson
Oscar De La Hoya: I think Barrera is training hard for this fight and wants to avenge his loss no matter how long ago it was. Also Barrera has already stated he is doing this for all of the Mexican fighters that Pacquaio has beaten and for the whole country of Mexico. That's a tall order so I think you are going to see an extremely exciting fight. I think Barrera is going to surprise a lot of people in that fight.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BUSY OSCAR
You've said that you will be fighting twice in 2008. You've also said that there is a big possibility that you will be fighting at welterweight for both of those fights. You've ruled out fights with Mosley, Cotto and Mayweather so far. So, will you be trying to fight for a title at all and if so who would you be looking to fight? Also, I know you have signed a lot of good, young up and comers recently. Who do you feel has the potential to become a star fighter in the next couple of years?
Luis
Oscar De La Hoya: I hope to fight as much as I can before I retire and fighting twice in 2008 would be a great accomplishment for me. I want to fight at welterweight for the rest of my career and depending what fights are presented that is what I would like to do. Titles are always something to fight for and if it is a fight that is attractive to me, I will fight for a title. Golden Boy has a lot of great fighters on the horizon and you can go to our website at www.goldenboypromotions.com to see who they are.