Makijs
01-09-2004, 19:09
http://www.maxboxing.com/Stowell/Stowell090104.asp
The Last De La Hurrah?
By Sean Stowell (September 1, 2004)
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How long Oscar De La Hoya plans on being an active fighter seems to change about as often as Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry's opinion on policy issues.
While Kerry's opposition has taken over New York City and the airwaves during the Republican National Convention, one of boxing's great politicians of all-time held court with the assembled media during a conference call Tuesday afternoon to discuss his September 18 bout against Bernard Hopkins for the undisputed middleweight championship.
Like a polished elected official, De La Hoya chose his words carefully when saying that this fight with Hopkins is going to be one of his last, and rematches with Felix Trinidad and Shane Mosley probably won't happen.
"This is the fight of my life," De La Hoya said from his Big Bear, Calif., training complex. "Every time I work out at the gym I leave a part of myself there. I'm winding down; this is the last big hoorah.
"I may not have the hunger for rematches with Trinidad and Mosley. It doesn't get any bigger than this fight with Hopkins. No other fight will motivate me after this one."
This has been a consistent statement from De La Hoya throughout his career. Over the years he's talked about pursuing architecture, golf, music (his self-titled album released in 2000 was nominated for a Latin Grammy). Who could blame the guy? He's got tons of money, he's only 31-years-old, and belting out a tune is a lot easier on the body than getting belted by a fist.
Marvin Hagler said it best when he said it's tough to get up in the morning when you are sleeping on silk sheets. De La Hoya, 37-3 with 29 KOs, has accomplished just about everything there is for a fighter to accomplish in boxing, from an Olympic gold medal to winning eight world titles. He is also one of the few names that transcend the sport and that is immediately recognizable to the general public.
In the past he has said he'd like to have another crack at Trinidad, who gave the "Golden Boy" his first taste of defeat in 1999. Trinidad would go on to lose to Bernard Hopkins two years later and would retire from the sport soon after. De La Hoya even went to Puerto Rico to coax the former champion back into action for a rematch of the controversial first fight in which De La Hoya started strong but boxed cautiously in the later rounds, losing the last four on one judge's scorecard and three of four on the other two judges' cards.
Of course Mosley has defeated De La Hoya twice, and the second meeting was another controversial decision. All three judges scored the bout in favor of Mosley 115-113, but many observers felt differently. De La Hoya wanted an investigation into the scoring, but he has since accepted the defeat.
Recently his hunger for victory, or lack thereof, has been evident, as he has seemed to fight down to the level of his competition
In his last outing nearly three months ago against WBO middleweight titleholder Felix Sturm, it was obvious De La Hoya wasn't motivated for the fight even though a shot at Hopkins was around the corner and a minimum of $27 million was on the table. The sport's biggest attraction looked doughy when he stripped off his robe, his protective cup rode high over his belly and rolls formed in his stomach when he sat down between rounds. He took a lackluster unanimous decision over Sturm and would later tell HBO's Larry Merchant: "everything went wrong tonight."
He's put a positive spin on the Sturm fight, calling it a blessing, and said he learned a lot from his performance.
"Things happen for a reason," De La Hoya said. "The Sturm fight taught me a lot. You will see a whole different Oscar on September 18."
When the level of competition is ratcheted up, the De La Hoya that sells out arenas and whose pay-per-view dates garner nearly one million buys, shows up.
This was never more the case than when he fought Fernando Vargas in 2002. The two had a confrontation at a press conference and Vargas had been tormenting De La Hoya for years. All the bad blood stemmed from an alleged incident in Big Bear, in which Vargas, who was an amateur at the time, felt De La Hoya disrespected him.
De La Hoya would go on to drop Vargas in the 11th round and later proclaimed: "I know this sounds kind of brutal, but when I saw his blood, I wanted more."
De La Hoya said anger is a good motivator for fights, but against Hopkins he only dislikes the fact that the "Executioner" is trying to hurt him.
"If there is a fighter I hate and can't stand then anger works," he said. "Just the thought of fighting Hopkins gets me pumped up. He's been a bully for so long, but there's not any hatred towards him. I don't even know the guy. He does want to take my head off, so in that way I hate him."
Though he was vague on how he would defeat Hopkins, De La Hoya did say his left hand will be the key to victory.
"The key to winning is my jab, left hook, and left uppercut," he said. "My right is the icing on the cake."
He then went on to say that while reviewing tapes of some of Hopkins' past fights, especially against Roy Jones, Jr., he was vulnerable to right hands.
"He's got a lot of vulnerabilities," De La Hoya continued. "Whether it's right hands or left hooks, something has got to work."
When asked if he plans on using his right hand more in this fight, something he has improved upon since employing Floyd Mayweather, Sr., as his trainer, De La Hoya tiptoed around the question, like the clever politician.
"I can't talk about strategy," De La Hoya said with a slight laugh. "I have to throw you guys some curve balls."
So, is this his last big hurrah? It's doubtful, because despite all his outside interests, nothing can quench his thirst like a big-time fight with Trinidad or Mosley. He's probably just throwing us another curve ball.
The Last De La Hurrah?
By Sean Stowell (September 1, 2004)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How long Oscar De La Hoya plans on being an active fighter seems to change about as often as Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry's opinion on policy issues.
While Kerry's opposition has taken over New York City and the airwaves during the Republican National Convention, one of boxing's great politicians of all-time held court with the assembled media during a conference call Tuesday afternoon to discuss his September 18 bout against Bernard Hopkins for the undisputed middleweight championship.
Like a polished elected official, De La Hoya chose his words carefully when saying that this fight with Hopkins is going to be one of his last, and rematches with Felix Trinidad and Shane Mosley probably won't happen.
"This is the fight of my life," De La Hoya said from his Big Bear, Calif., training complex. "Every time I work out at the gym I leave a part of myself there. I'm winding down; this is the last big hoorah.
"I may not have the hunger for rematches with Trinidad and Mosley. It doesn't get any bigger than this fight with Hopkins. No other fight will motivate me after this one."
This has been a consistent statement from De La Hoya throughout his career. Over the years he's talked about pursuing architecture, golf, music (his self-titled album released in 2000 was nominated for a Latin Grammy). Who could blame the guy? He's got tons of money, he's only 31-years-old, and belting out a tune is a lot easier on the body than getting belted by a fist.
Marvin Hagler said it best when he said it's tough to get up in the morning when you are sleeping on silk sheets. De La Hoya, 37-3 with 29 KOs, has accomplished just about everything there is for a fighter to accomplish in boxing, from an Olympic gold medal to winning eight world titles. He is also one of the few names that transcend the sport and that is immediately recognizable to the general public.
In the past he has said he'd like to have another crack at Trinidad, who gave the "Golden Boy" his first taste of defeat in 1999. Trinidad would go on to lose to Bernard Hopkins two years later and would retire from the sport soon after. De La Hoya even went to Puerto Rico to coax the former champion back into action for a rematch of the controversial first fight in which De La Hoya started strong but boxed cautiously in the later rounds, losing the last four on one judge's scorecard and three of four on the other two judges' cards.
Of course Mosley has defeated De La Hoya twice, and the second meeting was another controversial decision. All three judges scored the bout in favor of Mosley 115-113, but many observers felt differently. De La Hoya wanted an investigation into the scoring, but he has since accepted the defeat.
Recently his hunger for victory, or lack thereof, has been evident, as he has seemed to fight down to the level of his competition
In his last outing nearly three months ago against WBO middleweight titleholder Felix Sturm, it was obvious De La Hoya wasn't motivated for the fight even though a shot at Hopkins was around the corner and a minimum of $27 million was on the table. The sport's biggest attraction looked doughy when he stripped off his robe, his protective cup rode high over his belly and rolls formed in his stomach when he sat down between rounds. He took a lackluster unanimous decision over Sturm and would later tell HBO's Larry Merchant: "everything went wrong tonight."
He's put a positive spin on the Sturm fight, calling it a blessing, and said he learned a lot from his performance.
"Things happen for a reason," De La Hoya said. "The Sturm fight taught me a lot. You will see a whole different Oscar on September 18."
When the level of competition is ratcheted up, the De La Hoya that sells out arenas and whose pay-per-view dates garner nearly one million buys, shows up.
This was never more the case than when he fought Fernando Vargas in 2002. The two had a confrontation at a press conference and Vargas had been tormenting De La Hoya for years. All the bad blood stemmed from an alleged incident in Big Bear, in which Vargas, who was an amateur at the time, felt De La Hoya disrespected him.
De La Hoya would go on to drop Vargas in the 11th round and later proclaimed: "I know this sounds kind of brutal, but when I saw his blood, I wanted more."
De La Hoya said anger is a good motivator for fights, but against Hopkins he only dislikes the fact that the "Executioner" is trying to hurt him.
"If there is a fighter I hate and can't stand then anger works," he said. "Just the thought of fighting Hopkins gets me pumped up. He's been a bully for so long, but there's not any hatred towards him. I don't even know the guy. He does want to take my head off, so in that way I hate him."
Though he was vague on how he would defeat Hopkins, De La Hoya did say his left hand will be the key to victory.
"The key to winning is my jab, left hook, and left uppercut," he said. "My right is the icing on the cake."
He then went on to say that while reviewing tapes of some of Hopkins' past fights, especially against Roy Jones, Jr., he was vulnerable to right hands.
"He's got a lot of vulnerabilities," De La Hoya continued. "Whether it's right hands or left hooks, something has got to work."
When asked if he plans on using his right hand more in this fight, something he has improved upon since employing Floyd Mayweather, Sr., as his trainer, De La Hoya tiptoed around the question, like the clever politician.
"I can't talk about strategy," De La Hoya said with a slight laugh. "I have to throw you guys some curve balls."
So, is this his last big hurrah? It's doubtful, because despite all his outside interests, nothing can quench his thirst like a big-time fight with Trinidad or Mosley. He's probably just throwing us another curve ball.