As Good as it Gets for De La Hoya - At This Age

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

By Steve Kim - In front of 27,000 fans that attended his 'Homecoming' at the Home Depot Center soccer stadium, Oscar De La Hoya did the expected by decisioning the game, yet physically overmatched, Steve Forbes over 12 rounds. It was a solid, if unspectacular performance by 'The Golden Boy' and it sets up a September rematch ('This Time the World Can Wait - But You'll Get it Regardless') versus Floyd Mayweather Jr.

But I have to disagree with my buddy and HBO color commentator Emanuel Steward, who believed that Oscar was 'spectacular', turned back the clock and looked as good as he has in about a decade.

Really?

Now, perhaps Steward is getting a cut of the pay-per-view revenue for the Mayweather rematch, or he's playing the role that Charles Barkley does for Shaquille O'Neal as his personal protector, but to these eyes, De La Hoya not only didn't look as good as he has in the past, he looked as though he has even regressed physically from last May, when he was first defeated by Mayweather. His reflexes didn't look quite as sharp, he only showed brief moments of the explosion and acceleration that marked his prime, and while he was able to shake Forbes late in the fight, he never really came close to stopping a guy who was about 10 pounds past his optimum weight class. [details]

[Drunken Cat]

Nice read.

[lech911]

Maybe so, but this is the biggest match that can be made in boxing, and it brings alot of mainstream attention to the sport of boxing, and therefore I think this fight is good for boxing.

[MANGLER]

Only way to support this fight is to look at the potential revenue it can bring in. Even at that, a lot of the people who bought the first fight will know enough to **** on this one. Oscar gets credit for wanting to go out fightin the best, but he's deprivin more desrevin guys buy doin so. Floyd's just bidin his time before he finally defends the WW title against the top challenger.

[slick23]

Like the article however, I see the second fight being as close as ever. I would sure as hell not bet on Floyd considering the odds would considerably be in favor of him. Maybe your right on the assumption that Oscar is too old, but I just can't see Floyd ever being able to seriously hurt Dela Hoya. Secretly I think that is why everyone considers the rematch to be pointless. Sounds sad but its that old cliche that everyone wants to see blood and guts, and with this match up the chances of this occuring seems improbable. I also think that putting to much into Dela Hoya's recent fight with Forbes is major mistake. The key is the jab period. If he can use it for 12 rounds I like his chances, if not he loses a decision. If someone could please respond and tell me if I'm crazy in thinking that Dela Hoya's size advantage was huge in the first fight and that it showed how gifted Floyd is. If anybody can't afford to slip up on their skills in this matchup its Floyd, he just seems much smaller, and has to win in the middle of the ring. Something that can be negated with the Dela hoya jab.

[DuttyAlacrity]

nice read... i will not be paying my money to see pbf vs ODLH II

[Phoenix B]

Good Read

I could not have said it better myself. The next fight Pretty Boy is going to take Oscar to school. Oscar has been in the ring with Floyd and vise versa. It will look a lot like the Gatti fight.

[Sinisterevo]

this guy needs to stick to basketball analysis

[MnTwins24]

Like the article however, I see the second fight being as close as ever. I would sure as hell not bet on Floyd considering the odds would considerably be in favor of him. Maybe your right on the assumption that Oscar is too old, but I just can't see Floyd ever being able to seriously hurt Dela Hoya. Secretly I think that is why everyone considers the rematch to be pointless. Sounds sad but its that old cliche that everyone wants to see blood and guts, and with this match up the chances of this occuring seems improbable. I also think that putting to much into Dela Hoya's recent fight with Forbes is major mistake. The key is the jab period. If he can use it for 12 rounds I like his chances, if not he loses a decision. If someone could please respond and tell me if I'm crazy in thinking that Dela Hoya's size advantage was huge in the first fight and that it showed how gifted Floyd is. If anybody can't afford to slip up on their skills in this matchup its Floyd, he just seems much smaller, and has to win in the middle of the ring. Something that can be negated with the Dela hoya jab.

Nice response man, right on.

[FLY TY]

the first fight wasn't close, the second fight won't be close..............