By Aaron Klein: I don’t begrudge a guy for wanting to make some money, but come on, there’s a point where one can only stomach so much before they lose interest completely in the sport. For me, I think I’ve reach that point with the latest boxing news that Oscar De La Hoya (39-5, 30 KOs) has decided on fighting Manny Pacquiao (47-3-2, 35 KOs) on December 6th. It’s not as bad as it once was, however, because De La Hoya is now hinting that he’ll continue fighting beyond this fight, presumably against other smaller fighters like Ricky Hatton, a rematch with Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather Jr., or possibly against the inexperienced Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Each fight would most likely generate huge money similar to the payday that De La Hoya will get for his bout with Pacquiao in December.
However, other than a rematch with Mayweather, it hardly seems appealing to see Oscar fight the much smaller Hatton? I doubt that De La Hoya will consider a bout with Chavez Jr. given the difficulties that he’s had recently in dealing with C-class opponents like Matt Vanda and Ray Sanchez, but it’s always a possibility.
It would be one of those fights in which Oscar would have to take it easy on him – in other words, hold him up to keep him in the fight long enough for fans to feel like they didn’t get ripped off. Unfortunately, ripped off is what they’d get, which is why I tend to doubt that De La Hoya will ever decide on fighting the younger Chavez. Then again, I said the same thing when people mentioned him fighting the super featherweight Pacquiao. However, I should have caught on when De La Hoya stopped to fight the former super featherweight Steve Forbes in May. If De La Hoya was willing to fight him, why not Pacquiao?
Ricky Hatton, a light welterweight, was previously on De La Hoya’s radar screen not long ago, but Hatton decided on fighting against International Boxing Federation light welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi in November rather than waiting around for a fight with De La Hoya in December. It was a rarity to see De La Hoya turned down for a fight, but then again, Hatton now has a lot of money after his fight with Mayweather and can now afford to turn down fights that he would have literally jumped at in the past.
Hatton probably knew himself that De La Hoya wouldn’t be firm about his threat to retire from boxing in December, and thought it would be better to get in an easy payday against the soft-punching Malignaggi before taking on De La Hoya. As far as size mismatch goes, it’s not quite as bad as De La Hoya facing Pacquiao, but it’s not much of an improvement. Hatton is only 5′7″, an inch taller than Pacquiao and four inches shorter than De La Hoya.
However, the more telling statistics is the reach disparity between them, in which De La Hoya would enjoy an eight inch reach advantage over Hatton. This would mean that Hatton would have to bull rush the taller De La Hoya constantly if he hoped to land any of his own shots, leaving himself vulnerable to getting hit with a left hook from De La Hoya on the way inside. He’d stand little chance of beating De La Hoya, of course, because he’d take way too much punishment while on the outside.
Mayweather will probably be coming back soon, probably when his finances take more of a dip and he needs more money in his piggy bank. Obviously, he’d likely jump at a chance to fight De La Hoya if he can get a good purse split cut.
August 31st, 2008 at 3:57 pm
after he fights manny, why not take on calderon or arce, or a 11 year old.
and he wonders why real Mexican boxing fans will never accept him.
August 31st, 2008 at 5:14 pm
I have a better idea call, La chiquita Gonzales. HaHa. Loser, thats why we all Mexican hate u.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:08 am
Im a big Fan of De la hoya, a skilled boxer and big time bussinessman. but with his upcoming fight with the lightweight pacquiao
i can see him struggle with the lightning quickness of pacquaio, i dont know why de la hoya even consider figthing pacquiao as his opponent, but i can see the big time money here.. he may look slow pairing him with pacquiao circling him around and may land big bombs to de la hoya’s face, he didnt do good with forbes, he should have fought someone slower, big thing here is that his former trainer is the trainer of pacquiao, i can see de lahoya loose via unanimous decision…..
September 7th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
I thought weight divisions were invented to stop this kind of grotesque match up.
Super athletes like top class boxers, really think that they can defy the laws of nature and in many respects they can.
This is all about the $$ so how can you begrudge them. They are adults after all, and Manny is a super athlete. It’s still a meaningless, grotesque match-up in my opinion.
So Manny beats de la Hoya, or vice Versa… and…??? I give up.
September 7th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
If nothing else I think De la Hoya will feel embarassed standing next to the 5′ 6″ petite Manny who is an all time great. This is a huge risk for him and a virtual no brainer for De La Hoya (I am disappointed in the man, lost my respect for him
)
I guess he needs a big name, rather than a career defining fight at this stage of his life, which is why he won’t be fighting the tough guys (margharito, etc).
I smell a De La Hoya V Mayweather II next year and frankly who really cares now anyway?