And I told him well, I mean, if you beat the best in the world against Floyd Jr. you have to continue that, you know, streak and obviously there’s (Miguel Codo) who is considered one of the best. You know, but you can never tell, you know, I mean, who you’re going to face that much ahead, that much time ahead because, you know, I mean, in December anything can happen.
You know, he’s fighting (Margarito), anything can happen there so, you know, but obviously we know it’s, you know, an easy fight for (Codo) and, you know, we just feel that, you know, we’ll take it one fight at a time and then we’ll go from there.
Operator: Thank you. Our next question is coming from Steve Carp of Las Vegas Review Journal.
Steve Carp: Great, great. Hey Oscar, given what’s happened to yourself and other Golden Boy fighters in Nevada the past few big fights, you know, Hopkins Saturday, Marquez and Pacquiao. Is there any thoughts on yours or Richard’s part of moving this Mayweather fight out of Nevada to either New York or California, some other venue where you may feel you get a fairer shot?
Oscar De La Hoya: Well it’s been a rocky road for us in Las Vegas, I mean, but, you know, we have a lot of faith, you know, that Las Vegas will do the right thing. I mean, you know, we’re becoming such an important part of Las Vegas boxing and, you know, we want to continue it for many years to come. I mean, Las Vegas has proven that they are the top commission and the top, you know, state to fight in if you want to be in the big time boxing.
So, you know, it’s – I guess it’s, you know, it happens. I mean, you have those decisions and, you know, it’s just so difficult, you know, to win in Vegas though when you’re a Golden Boy fighter. But all I can say is that I have my eyes very, very close on them and we’re going to open up our eyes even more. And, you know, but we have the utmost respect for them and, you know, the bottom line is that they’re a very respectable commission.
Steve Carp: Richard, your thoughts on that?
Richard Schaefer: No comments. I’d rather say nothing. But what I can say is I think the commission – Oscar is absolutely right. I respect a lot Chairman (Bailey) and the members of the commission and same as with (Keith Kaiser) and we have a very nice relationship with them. So I really don’t think it has – I know it has nothing to do with the commission. I consider these people friends.
I think some of the judges, I don’t know what it is, some of the old time judges maybe have different preferences and again, I mean, I just – it is, you know, looking back the last seven or so close fights in Las Vegas, we lost them all. But, you know, I mean, so it is and I think that Oscar will not leave it in the hands of the judges because knowing the way it is.
And, you know, I think I’m glad you asked the question because you’re not the only media member. I think the media is starting to take notice of that against Golden Boy judging. And, you know, maybe it’s going to help to make some of these judges more honest.
Operator: Thank you. Our final question is coming from Salvador Rodriguez of The Record.
Salvador Rodriguez: ((Spanish Spoken)).
Oscar De La Hoya: ((Spanish Spoken)).
Oscar De La Hoya: Well, I mean, what – how do I – how are people going to perceive this fight? I mean, how do I want people to remember this fight? You know, what are people going to take in from this fight? This is going to be one heck of a fight. I mean, Stevie Forbes like all my other opponents are going to elevate themselves to another level because they know by having a good performance, by beating me, they take their career to another stage.
So, I mean, I think that’s what’s going to make it such a great fight is that I know Stevie Forbes is coming with everything. Therefore I will be coming with everything. So I think people are going to really appreciate this performance from both of us.
Steve Forbes: I just want to thank Golden Boy and also Tournament of Contenders. A special thanks to Jeff Wald and Richard Schaefer, you do a whole heck of a lot behind the scenes and I don’t think you get enough credit. I’m just looking forward to fighting man. I’ve been a world champion before, you know, this is the opportunity of all opportunities. Looking forward man to go out there and fight even above any level I’ve ever fought at and I’m just looking forward to going out there and being 100%. And I know I’m a huge underdog, but I think boxing is built – this is the only sport where, I mean on paper, yeah you’re an underdog, but once the bell rings, it’s a live fight, a live dog. I’m here and I’m excited and I’m just ready to go out here and be in such a historical event, I’m excited about it.
Franklin McNeal,
Newark Star Ledger: My first question is, you come into a fight, and I talked to a few people just casually and everyone says, okay Stevie, it takes a lot to punch to hurt Oscar, and Steve isn’t big enough or Steve has to reach. What does Steve Forbes bring in to this fight that gives him a better than average chance of winning?
Steve Forbes: I bring defense, fearlessness, competitive spirit. I mean it’s funny that people say I like the big punch and yeah I’m not a puncher, but you ask 38 guys that I’ve been in the ring with, they’ll tell you something different. If you notice, nobody’s ever been able to bully me around the ring. I mean any fighter I ever fought, I mean you go with the last fight, Bojado, strong puncher, strong – he wasn’t able to bully me around if you watch the fight. He was the one retreating at the end. And that’s just from experience. I bring experience. I bring being calm, being a professional, not getting too over excited, you know, just going about my work as a workman does. And I think that bring a lot. And you talk about the size, you look at when Oscar fought Pernell Whitaker. Pernell Whitaker was natural lightweight fighter, he’s smaller than I am. I mean if we really want to get technical, but I mean his boxing brilliance, kept him alive, in the fight and then a very close fight. But, you know, I’m not comparing myself to Pernell Whitaker, I mean but I’m saying as far as smart and knowing my tools. I know I’m a little guy. I know what I have to do but I’ll use my skills in there.
Franklin McNeal: You were at 147 during the Contender series, how can fighting at or how was that experience healthful for you going into this fight knowing what it feels like to fight at 147?
Steve Forbes: I think during that Contender, the guys were naturally bigger than Oscar is, I mean, you had some of the guys that fought at high as 168. I mean strong, strong guys and I’ve always looked at Oscar more as welterweight that was just skilled enough to compete at the junior middleweight and middleweight divisions. But not really necessarily a big physical guy at junior middleweight, but more of a natural welterweight. So, I think, coming from the Contender with these big, big guys definitely helped me as far confidence and knowing that I can be in there with strong guys and, not be discouraged at all.