By Chris Williams: Oscar De a Hoya says Errol Spence will lose to Manny Pacquiao and Terence Crawford due to their technical ability. De La Hoya states that Pacquiao’s speed and mobility will be too much for Spence (27-0, 21 KOs).
Oscar’s reasons for picking Crawford (37-0, 28 KOs) over Spence because he views him as a better fighter, even though he’s not proven himself against A-level welterweights.
We could soon see if Pacquiao and Crawford have the goods to beat Spence if they’re willing to negotiate at the right price.
Crawford would have to likely agree to a 60-40 cut if he wants Spence to give him a fight in 2021. Right now, its’ not looking good for Crawford.
Oscar talks about his motivation for a comeback
“The love for the sport, that’s my motivation,” said Oscar De La Hoya to SnowqueenLA when asked why he plans on making a comeback. “I love boxing.
Even though I’ve had a lot of success, even though I’ve made a lot of money, even though I’m involved in so many other businesses outside of boxing, I just love boxing.
“I miss it, and I feel like I can still do it because I’ve been training, and my reflexes are great. Mike Tyson, the inspiration he instilled in me when I saw him inside the ring with Roy Jones, I can’t even tell you how much respect I have for him.
“What is he? 56 or 57? And he looked amazing. So that was a big motivation. People say, ‘Why are you doing it? Is it money?’ I’d give every cent to charity; I don’t care, I really would.
“When I see these young fighters, you still have the chance to do something. Don’t be lazy. If you have to wake up at four in the morning, then wake up at 3:30, you know?
“If you have to spar ten rounds today, spar as hard as you can and as smart as you can. It’s about working hard basically,” said De La Hoya.
De La Hoya fails to realize that the 54-year-old Mike Tyson’s eight-round exhibition match against 51-year-old Roy Jones Jr wasn’t a real fight. Tyson was facing an old and out of shape-looking Jones.
Tyson didn’t have to get in the ring with a top-level heavyweight and risk his neck.
It’s safe to say that if ‘Iron Mike’ Tyson had gone into the ring against a top heavyweight like Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua, it would have ended badly for him.
Pacquiao and Crawford beat Spence – say, Oscar
“I have Manny Pacquiao. Manny Pacquiao beats Errol Spence, I think so,” predicts De La Hoya. “Especially after Spence and Danny Garcia happened, I think Pacquiao beats Errol Spence just because of the footwork and speed.
“One thing that people don’t know about Manny Pacquiao that they underestimate is he’s fast, and he never gets tired.
“He continues to throw punches, and he hits hard. I’m surprised he didn’t knock me out, but I do have a good chin. But he does hit very hard.
“I hope it happens very soon while they’re both in their prime, but I have Crawford,” said De La Hoya in picking Terence Crawford over Errol Spence.
“And I love Errol Spence; I think he’s a nice guy. He’s a hard worker, and he has a good soul. But I’m going to pick Crawford because I think he has better tools,” said Oscar.
If De La Hoya took a good look at Crawford’s last fight against Kell Brook, he’d have second thoughts about picking him over Spence. Crawford looked awful against the washed-up 34-year-old Brook.
Kell might have won that fight if the match had taken place at 154 and if he was a little bit younger and more active with his career.
Chris Williams commends Crawford and his promoter Bob Arum in selecting a past his prime Brook as his opponent.
That was a smart move, but the victory was an empty one because Crawford wasn’t facing an elite welterweight. He wasn’t even fighting a guy from the 147-lb division. Brook fights at 154 now.
De La Hoya no interest in Pacquiao fight
“I don’t know,” said De La Hoya when asked he’ll be fighting for his first fight back. “It’ll have to be a good style for me. It has to make sense where we’ll make it a great fight because I love fighting everybody.
“The one thing that people respected about me is that I fought everybody, so we’ll see. It might be a current [fighter]. I have to be careful as well because I’m not 20.
“Somebody asked me, ‘Will you fight GGG?’ Yeah, I think his style is easy for me. I love styles like that. Guys that hit hard, that’s suited to my style.
“I’m on my toes, and it’s so easy. But I never said I would beat him [Golovkin]. It was somebody that asked me would I fight him? Yeah, of course, I would. It’s perfect for me.
“Somebody asked me the other day, ‘Would you do a rematch with Manny Pacquiao?‘ Are you crazy? That style is so bad for everybody,” said De L hoya.
“Manny Pacquiao is a guy with so much energy, and he’s a southpaw. We do have history together; he obviously beat me. But it wouldn’t be the right style for me at this moment in my life.
“Manny Pacquiao believes in giving to charity, which is beautiful. It’s amazing. But he’s also an athlete, he’s also a person, who needs to fight for money to supply for his family,” said Oscar.
That’s surprising that De La Hoya is saying that a fight with Gennadiy Golovkin would be easy compared to a rematch with Pacquiao. I don’t think anyone would pick the 42-year-old Pacquiao over GGG.
That would be a fight that would likely be a replay of Manny’s fourth match against Juan Manuel Marquez.
Oscar says Pacquiao will take Spence over McGregor
“I mean, he’s not dumb. I would take the Conor [McGregor] fight because it’s a bigger generating money fight,” said De La Hoya when asked who should Pacquiao fight next between Errol Spence Jr or McGregor.
“But that’s not who Manny Pacquiao is. Manny Pacquiao has always been a fighter of respect, a fighter of integrity, a fighter of honor. That’s why he’s the best.
“That’s why he’s an eight-time division world champion because Manny Pacquiao is. He’s a great super champion.
“I’m sure he’d prefer the Conor fight because it makes more money and creates more attention, and he’s set for life with his family.
“But knowing Manny Pacquiao, he’ll probably want to fight Spence because it’s a historical fight. It’s a fight that he believes he can win,” said De La Hoya.
De La Hoya hasn’t been paying attention to Pacquiao’s interest in a fight against UFC star Conor McGregor for the last year.
At this point, it’s not even open for discussion on who Pacquiao will choose for his next fight.
Chris Williams sees Pacquiao ignoring Spence and instead of taking the safe fight against McGregor, who fight a lick inside the boxing ring.
Fury defeats Joshua
“Both guys are my favorites, actually, but I have to go with Tyson [Fury],” said De La Hoya when asked who wins the fight between Fury and Anthony Joshua.
“Tyson has these abilities for a big guy. He fights like a lightweight, and he hits hard.
“What he did to Deontay Wilder is incredible. He got off the canvas. We know he has a chin and a heart.
“The only thing that kind of questions me not to take Anthony is that I’ve seen him where he got shaken up by [Andy] Ruiz.
“You have to question a little bit, ‘Does he have that mental strength, that heart?’ Of course, he does; he’s a fighter. But Tyson. I still love Joshua.
De La Hoya isn’t exactly going out on the limb in picking Fury over Joshua, is he? The entire world has practically got the unbeaten WBC heavyweight champion Fury (30-0-1, 21 KOs) beating Joshua at this point.
Joshua’s loss to Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019, and his subsequent unimaginative victories over Ruiz Jr in the rematch, and Kubrat Pulev has hurt his popularity.
Boxing fans no longer view Joshua, 31, as the #1 heavyweight in the division, and t’s easy to see why they feel this way. Joshua’s back to back flat performances over Ruiz and Pulev has the fans now viewing Fury as the #1 guy by default.
Other predictions
“I think both guys are awesome,” said De La Hoya about Jermall and Jermell Charlo. “I think both guys are great fighters. And I would have to go with the mean-looking one, Jermell.
“I was watching Caleb Plant’s fights the other day, kind of studying him,” said De La Hoya. “I studied his style.
“He’s actually a really good boxer. He can move, and he can hit. [David] Benavidez can actually box, but he loves to come forward, and he sometimes lets his anger get the best of him.
“He makes it too personal in the ring may, and that can be a distraction. So I think I would have to go with Caleb [to defeat Benavidez]. Sorry, Benavidez.
Gervonta Davis loses to Teofimo Lopez
“Teofimo,” said De La Hoya, picking Teofimo Lopez to beat Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis. “I love Gervonta; I think he’s an awesome fighter, an amazing fighter.
“But Teofimo proved so much during the Lomachenko fight. We have to realize that Tank is a big puncher, but Teofmo probably walks around at 175? 150?
“Even better because he takes care of himself. So I would have to go with Teofimo.
“Hands down, Ryan Garcia,” said Oscar in picking between Ryan and Devin Haney.
Whatever hype that Teofimo Lopez has right now from his win over Vasily Lomachenko on October 17th, it’s going to evaporate soon.
Teofimo chose to take an easy fight against George Kambosos and talked crazily about wanting $10 million to fight Devin Haney.