De La Hoya: "Mayweather Has To Win By Knockout"

[iskupaldi]

bunch of Mayweather nut-huggers are slowly backing down, hah, a win is a win...right.. Jr needs to knock Marquez out. Period!!! A decision let alone a split decision will not do. Knock the guy out, 'coz he keeps saying he's the best PFP ever, nows the time to prove it. Make me a believer!!!

[Burner]

bunch of Mayweather nut-huggers are slowly backing down, hah, a win is a win...right.. Jr needs to knock Marquez out. Period!!! A decision let alone a split decision will not do. Knock the guy out, 'coz he keeps saying he's the best PFP ever, nows the time to prove it. Make me a believer!!!

Knocking people out isnt his speacility.........thats not his style.

[Al Haymon]

bunch of Mayweather nut-huggers are slowly backing down, hah, a win is a win...right.. Jr needs to knock Marquez out. Period!!! A decision let alone a split decision will not do. Knock the guy out, 'coz he keeps saying he's the best PFP ever, nows the time to prove it. Make me a believer!!!

isku,

A KO %age doesn't make you a better fighter. Unless you don't believe guys like Willie Pep and Pernell Whitaker are high ATG's.

I judge fighters based on their overall performances. I think it displays an absence of knowledge to expect anyone to be knocking out top guys in their fifth weight class.

[jrosales13]

1) The 164 number that I got on fight night for Oscar came from Roach. He disclosed it when discussing Oscar’s weight in the post-Pacquiao aftermath. I’ll try to find it for you.

Also, the WBC 30-day mandatory weigh-in had Floyd at 151 and Oscar at 165. That is a researchable fact. You can independently verify.



2) You are absolutely right. Pavlik was a favourite over Hopkins. Despite the fact that Pavlik was moving up two weight divisions. Why? In my eyes, that only underscores – not detracts from – my point. The weight difference was not perceived to be a substantial issue.
Some might say that people thought Hopkins was shot. I will kick that person in their testes. Just one fight previously (a few months) Hopkins knocked down Joe Calzaghe in a very close fight. a fight that many people think Hopkins won. Bernard was a guy who people can’t even remember being KD’d, and some were predicting that Kelly would KO him.
The weight was not the issue then…but it is now. Odd.

Also, the concept of “favourite” is not something I give a lot of credence to in assessing a fight. The odds are just a mathematical reflection of how people are betting. And most of those people are not knowledgeable about boxing.


3) Would you please address the Clottey/Corrales reference.

4) My point is not so much that weight doesn't matter. It's that the actual weight difference b/w May and Marq is rather small.

Again there was no unofficial weight. But, if you could come with proof on how much PBF and Oscar weight on fight night. I will concede.

And with Hopkins I am not going with the odds when I said favorite. I was going by the boxing media, boxing announcers, and boxing fans were Pavlik was looked as the favorite in boxing world. I am not talking about Las Vegas. So that is why I think different. While PBF is looked like the favority by the boxing world right? Same thing like When Tarver fought B-Hop a lot of ppl were talking about the weight difference. I remember some fans making the issue of the weight and cuz of the weight Tarver was going to stop B-Hop. So lets not make it to be that everybody is out to get Floyd. Cuz we making an issue NOW about the weight? When we have before Like with Tarver/Hopkins, Hopkins/Oscar and many in history,

3. I don't know what you want me to say about Clottey/Corrales? I was turned off by that fight and was not big on Clottey after that. I felt there was something missing about him. I did make a big deal cuz he couldn't KO a shot fighter who was in a weight-class he did not belong in. I knew from that night that yes he was good but that there was that "IT" missing about him.

I think people have suspected KO's from bigger fighters. That is nothing new, weight has been an issue before, but just cuz it's Mayweather we not suppose to criticize him? Is that it?

[ELPacman]

Yes because Floyd saying he KOed a 135lber really makes a statement as opposed to Manny KOing a welterweight. Oscar's logic makes perfect sense. He really is taking his loss hard.

[sycomantz]

i cant wait to see how many people will be floored with JMM gets KO'ed

[Al Haymon]

Again there was no unofficial weight. But, if you could come with proof on how much PBF and Oscar weight on fight night. I will concede.

http://www.***********.com/5017-de-l...-weigh-in.html

I'll try to find the Roach interview

[jrosales13]

Floyd weighed 148 on the night of the fight and Oscar weighed 160 , this was proven just a few days ago by another poster ,, ODH didnt loose speed he was at his best weight being the best he can be , you dont try and match another guys best attribute when you physically cant , thats ****** you try and counter his best with your best , Oscar was past his prime but he was a real live one as Mayorga showed and Oscar had a huge advantage in weight and people were saying all over Oscar was going to KO Floyd because was too big .

Weight does matter how can it not in a weighted fight ,the trick is in how you use it , the bottom line in all this is Floyd is a great fighter , so much so that people dont think its a fair fight unless he is way smaller and handicapped , that he must KO fighters that the current P4P best could not do with the same advantages Floyd has over JMM , Floyd must KO fighters that nobody else could KO , the hypocrisy of it all .

Well I don't know who to believe Al Haymon said 164 and you saying 160. Al Haymon said that on the 30-day weight in Floyd was 151. You saying on fight night he was 148. So that means in the 30 days he went from 151 to 150 and then in one night went to 148? that does not sound right to me? Plus what smart elite fighter losses 2 lbs after the official weight in?

Oscar was not at his best weight. Oscar best weight was 140. Just like Mayweather best weight IMO was 140. And, I think you would want to be your fastest when you fight Floyd. Cuz if not you would be a sitting duck. Oscar showing he was real live by KO'ing a shot fighter in Mayorga is not true. And, whoever said that Oscar was going to stop Floyd should not been taken serious. They were not knowledgable.

Why do you think PBF chose JMM for his first fight back? See I think it was so he could look more impressive in beating JMM than what Pac did. And, thus for demanding a bigger purse than Pac. Fact is if PBF wins every single round and decisions against JMM. While Pac even if he squeeks by Cotto. Floyd demands will not be met. Floyd has to KO JMM. Just so he could make an argument to get the bigger purse. Also when your the bigger man and an overwhelming favorite is expected of you to get the KO. It has always been that way.

[Al Haymon]

Same thing like When Tarver fought B-Hop a lot of ppl were talking about the weight difference. I remember some fans making the issue of the weight and cuz of the weight Tarver was going to stop B-Hop.

Tarver-Hopkins Fight Predictions


Saturday night on HBO PPV live from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, the champ Antonio Tarver defends his light heavyweight crown against Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins in X’s final fight of his career. What these fighters lack in age, both are a little long in the tooth but made careers out of being defensive-minded, they more than make up for with ring smarts, ambition, and will to win. This is how The Sweet Science writers see Tarver vs. Hopkins.

I'll go with Tarver by decision over Hopkins. Two cautious, crafty fighters fighting in the same ring, in my mind, equals a slow, tactical fight. Once Bernard feels Tarver's power, he'll stay away, finishing his career on his feet and in good health.
Mitch Abramson

Hopkins may be the older man at 41 years old, but, in ring years, he appears to be fresher than the 37-year-old Tarver. He competed evenly with the then-26-year-old Jermain Taylor in two fights, while Tarver showed signs of aging against Glen Johnson last summer and Roy Jones Jr. last October. Further, Tarver's weight situation can't be good. After reportedly gaining some 45 pounds to play a heavyweight in Sylvester Stallone's upcoming "Rocky Balboa" movie, there's no way we'll see the razor-sharp machine who took out Jones in the rematch two years ago. He'll have the bigger punch, but he'll also be sluggish and dull after struggling to get to 175 pounds again. That big punch probably won't land much against a defensively capable fighter like Hopkins. And when it does, Hopkins – much more physically equipped to absorb a light heavyweight punch than the naturally smaller Jones – won't budge. Look for B-Hop, with the help of training guru Mackie Shilstone, to outhustle Tarver on the inside with quick bursts, before moving out of danger, a la Michael Spinks against Larry Holmes in 1985. Consequently, he'll win the recognized light heavyweight championship via 12-round split decision.
Matt Aguilar

Styles make fights, and the fight between these two tacticians doesn’t promise to provide much excitement. Feinting and pawing with the jab will fill too many minutes of too many rounds. But when the action does come, it will be the naturally bigger Tarver who will be driving that action, punching in flurries and landing the occasional straight left. Still, he will not press the action enough to stop the crafty middleweight. Tarver beats Hopkins by decision.
David Berlin

Hopkins w12 Tarver – This is the perfect fight for insomniacs, two aged counterpunchers. I lean toward Hopkins because I think tarver, at 37, is older than B-Hop at 41. At the odds, Hopkins is certainly the bet.
Michael Katz

Here’s all you need to know about this fight: Historically, the most frequently cited example of a fighter overstaying his welcome is Joe Louis vs. Rocky Marciano in 1951. The Brown Bomber was precisely the same age in that one that Tarver is for this one – and Hopkins is four years older than that. It’s hard to imagine what the point of this exercise is supposed to be. The loser is obviously going to be damaged goods, but there isn’t much in it for the winner, either. Once again HBO is trading on names with little regard to the consequence. Prediction: Who cares?
George Kimball

I think Hopkins has slowed just enough that Tarver will have a slight edge in the only meaningful exchanges that do take place. I feel it will be a very tactical bout with Hopkins using his straight right and hook well, with Tarver having the edge with his jab and counter lefts. Expect lots of holding inside and neither to get tagged too hard over twelve rather uneventful but interesting – but not PPV worthy – rounds. It'll be close to call as beauty lies in the eye of the beholder and a draw or split decision may come out of it, but I'll say Tarver gets a close nod.
Joey Knish

Bernard is another underdog that will raise the roof in AC. I expect him to be smart in the first half and avoid Tarver's big left, and be surprisingly physical in the championship rounds. Hopkins wins a hard-fought split decision.
Zachary Levin

Both guys talk such a good game but then do more posing than fighting in the ring. The combination of Tarver reportedly coming down from 218 pounds and Hopkins hiring Mackie Shilstone as his conditioner makes this bout more interesting than it would ordinarily be. The pick here is Tarver because he is naturally bigger, has more to prove, and will probably pose less than Hopkins. Tarver W 12.
Bob Mladinich

I'm not expecting fireworks in the Tarver-Hopkins bout. In fact, I'm expecting a snore fest. Maybe I'll be fooled but I doubt it. In the last too many fights to count, Bernard Hopkins has fought for an average of ten seconds each round. Even against Antonio Tarver, he'll have to increase his punch output. The question is, can he? Tarver UD12 - so the answer's NO. I'm not a believer in Bernard any longer.
Scott Mallon

Hopkins has lost back-to-back decisions to Jermain Taylor, and that makes him very dangerous. However, what makes him even more dangerous is the fact that he, and about half the people who watched those two fights, believe that Hopkins won them both. The truth of the matter is both fights could have gone either way... Hopkins is pissed, and is by no means totally over the hill. In my opinion Antonio Tarver is very intent on gaining the respect he believe he deserves, which also makes him dangerous. However, it has been stated that during the filming of "Rocky Balboa" Tarver was tipping the scales at around 220 lbs. Roy Jones Jr. went up to heavyweight from light-heavyweight as well and came in at exactly 193 lbs. of shredded muscle, 27 lbs less than Tarver... and we all saw the impact it had on Jones. Hopkins is hungry to prove that he is still one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport. In addition, Hopkins claims that this is his last fight, which should motivate him even more. Tarver on the other hand, is just plain old hungry... you would be too if you just ****** 45 lbs in a few short months. The combination of the heart and skill of Hopkins, and the battle with the scales by Tarver only leads to one thing in my mind... Hopkins by an extremely boring decision.Alex Stone

At 41 years of age, Bernard Hopkins is still dangerous. But he is no longer able to put together the sustained, twelve-round attack that is necessary to beat Antonio Tarver. If the “Magic Man” sticks and moves throughout the fight, he will coast to an easy victory. Tarver by unanimous decision.
Aaron Tallent

Tarver is the natural light heavyweight. His strength and superior work rate will be the deciding factors on Saturday night. And while I'm hoping y'all get your PPV money's worth, it's entirely possible that this will be a strategic chess match, fought at the pace one would expect from a 37-year-old and a 41-year old...
Michael Woods

[Wiley Hyena]

Well I don't know who to believe Al Haymon said 164 and you saying 160. Al Haymon said that on the 30-day weight in Floyd was 151. You saying on fight night he was 148. So that means in the 30 days he went from 151 to 150 and then in one night went to 148? that does not sound right to me? Plus what smart elite fighter losses 2 lbs after the official weight in?

Oscar was not at his best weight. Oscar best weight was 140. Just like Mayweather best weight IMO was 140. And, I think you would want to be your fastest when you fight Floyd. Cuz if not you would be a sitting duck. Oscar showing he was real live by KO'ing a shot fighter in Mayorga is not true. And, whoever said that Oscar was going to stop Floyd should not been taken serious. They were not knowledgable.

Why do you think PBF chose JMM for his first fight back? See I think it was so he could look more impressive in beating JMM than what Pac did. And, thus for demanding a bigger purse than Pac. Fact is if PBF wins every single round and decisions against JMM. While Pac even if he squeeks by Cotto. Floyd demands will not be met. Floyd has to KO JMM. Just so he could make an argument to get the bigger purse. Also when your the bigger man and an overwhelming favorite is expected of you to get the KO. It has always been that way.

Mayweather's best weight was at 130. At 140 he clearly dodged Tszyu who owned that division.