“Fighting Words” – The Level: The Drive, The Dead-End and The Delay

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

by David P. Greisman - There is no plateau, no stagnation. We either rise or decline, improve or decay. Whether one’s level is known dictates just where one goes – to drive toward a destination; to head into a dead-end and not return; or to delay, to stay in neutral until the gas tank hits empty.

It is an eventual truth for superstars, next big things and never-will-bes, reality from which no multimillionaire, no coddled prospect and no local-show regular is immune. To be an athlete is to compete. To fight is to face another man one-on-one. For nearly all, someone, someday, will be better.

Oscar De La Hoya reached that moment years ago. He finally realized it last week, when he retired at 36 years old, with 39 wins and 6 losses, a future entrant into the Hall of Fame who will be worthy of induction but who falls short of recognition as an all-time great. No matter. He was on top of the fight game, and he was long handsomely rewarded for being so. [details]

[cush3]

One more fight

Oscar is a good fighter he just don't have no heart no more.He could of fought Chavez Jr. and let him get some revenge for his father.His father fought him twice and didn't hesitate signing the contract.He could of fought at 154 and he could of gotten some dignity back.But he took the b***h way out.Well at least he got three memories he can always think about.He lost to Mayweather.He lost to Pac Man.He's last win came over Stevie Forbes and DeLaHoya face was red and swollen.Man what a way to end your career.

[cordillera]

Oscar is a good fighter he just don't have no heart no more.He could of fought Chavez Jr. and let him get some revenge for his father.His father fought him twice and didn't hesitate signing the contract.He could of fought at 154 and he could of gotten some dignity back.But he took the b***h way out.Well at least he got three memories he can always think about.He lost to Mayweather.He lost to Pac Man.He's last win came over Stevie Forbes and DeLaHoya face was red and swollen.Man what a way to end your career.

he could have ended it a better way, but everyone gets old, to say that a 10 time champion in 6 different weight divisions took the ***** way out is ******, de la hoya did that in 45 fights, I understand that Chavez jr. did not have much of an amateur background, but at 39 fights what the hell has he done to deserve a fight with de la hoya, fight bums and whine about his daddy's beating?

[cush3]

he could have ended it a better way, but everyone gets old, to say that a 10 time champion in 6 different weight divisions took the ***** way out is ******, de la hoya did that in 45 fights, I understand that Chavez jr. did not have much of an amateur background, but at 39 fights what the hell has he done to deserve a fight with de la hoya, fight bums and whine about his daddy's beating?

So Stevie Forbes deserved a fight and not Chavez Jr.The sport is called boxing not hand pick your opponents.Early in his career he fought mostly older guys.What happen when he fought Sugar Shane (2),Felix Trindad,Bernard Hopkins,Floyd Mayweater,and Pac Man he lost.I'm going to put two more he should of lost Pernell Whitaker and Felix Strum.He could of least giving him another shot.I give him credit for what he did but 45 fights isn't nothing when your a true mexican fighter.Chavez Sr doubled that and more.

[Dave Rado]

So Stevie Forbes deserved a fight and not Chavez Jr.

Neither deserved a fight, but Forbes was just a tune-up.