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Oscar De La Hoya: “Who Has Antonio Margarito Fought To Deserve A Shot At Floyd M
HEY DANNY G ID LOVE TO HEAR YOUR PERSONAL OPINION ABOUT THIS
EXCLUSIVE Interview by Coyote Duran (Aug 2, 2006) Photo © Chris Farina
Stop what you’re doing and pick a genre. Any genre. Go ahead. It’s up to you which one you want. Then tack on the term, ‘Living Legend.’
Sometimes overused, often apropos, when you think ‘Living Legend’, the mind automatically seeks out a name and scrawls it on a mental blackboard. Tennis? Billie Jean King or Andre Agassi. Cooking? Wolfgang Puck or Emeril Lagasse. Comic book art? Alex Ross. Needlepoint?…………..OK, sue me. I don’t know that one.
When you think of boxing’s ‘Living Legends’, you can’t deny what WBC Super Welterweight titlist Oscar De La Hoya has done or meant for Our Sport. Olympic gold medal in 1992. Title belts in six weight classes. Undeniable mainstream appeal. Top notch fights. Killer drawing power. The power of promotion, self or otherwise. You’re either gonna love him or hate him. Odds are, your opinions are probably borne from De La Hoya’s successes.
Now nearing the sunset of his competitive career, De La Hoya, 38-4 (30), has even more to consider regarding the direction of his ongoing professional journey. Prosper as a promoter who chooses to explore the frontiers of innovation and originality by aligning himself with like-minded fighters who wish to take back the sport or sign one more contract for that one last hurrah?
Why not both? But trust that the latter will very likely be the epilogue in a brilliant tome of fight history.
And who better to sign copies of that figurative book than its own author, Oscar De La Hoya? Who knows? While I’m standing here in line, maybe I can think of some cool questions to ask him before I approach the table, copy clutched in a death grip.
OK, fine. It’s an interview. It’s not my fault that I’ve gotta explain my rants of imagination to you.
And so it went. Easy going and very candid, Oscar would invite Doghouse Boxing for a long chat and didn’t disappoint. ‘The Golden Boy’ touched on everything from his goals as a promoter to his feelings on sanctioning bodies to the welterweight division to……ahem……..Antonio Margarito.
And possibly facing Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a career finale showdown.
So, read on, Howlers, and consider this: We’ve all got questions for Oscar De La Hoya. Whether or not you’ll be satisfied with his answers (if your questions were covered in this interview) is all about you. I think mine were.
And if you can figure out who the hell the ‘Living Legend’ of needlepoint is, let me know. I’m curious that way.
Coyote Duran: When you made your professional debut, did you ever think, almost 14 or so years later, that life would be so fantastic and positively varied for you?
Oscar De La Hoya: I never imagined that it would be at this level. I always had dreams and aspirations of becoming something in boxing whether it was being famous or making money but never at this level.
Coyote Duran: Does playing the promotional field, for you, give you kind of a different point of view or an insight on things you might have never recognized solely as a fighter?
Oscar De La Hoya: Absolutely. You know, being a promoter now, it’s kind of like, opening the door and finding out and finding out what really is inside the house, so to speak. You know, a fighter doesn’t know what’s going on when it comes to how to promote a fight and where the money comes from and now that I’ve been a promoter for four years, I’ve learned the insights of how this boxing world really works! And one of the main reasons why I turned promoter is to educate the fighter and little by little, with my company, we can hopefully educate the fighters and the way they handle their careers.
Coyote Duran: No promotional firm in boxing history ever boasted a virtual ‘murderer’s row’ of top executives like Golden Boy Promotions. Was asking the likes of Bernard Hopkins, Shane Mosley and Marco Antonio Barrera kind of a thinly veiled way to thumb your nose at other promoters who take advantage of their fighters while reforming from deep within the sport?
Oscar De La Hoya: Well, what we’re doing is empowering the fighter. You know, it’s kind of like when United Artists was formed. Charlie Chaplin got together with the rest of the actors (Douglas Fairbanks, D.W. Griffith and Mary Pickford, to be exact.) and formed United Artists. This is the way we work. We’re empowering the fighter because, ultimately, it’s the fighter that makes the sport and when we joined forces with Hopkins, with Winky Wright, with Shane Mosley, with Marco Antonio Barrera, you have these high-profile names which probably are the biggest names now in boxing and we’re telling the world of boxing, “Hey, come join us!” because not only are we making everyone happy who’s with us, at the same time, we’re educating the fighters and making sure they have life after boxing.
Coyote Duran: Through good and bad, I gather.
Oscar De La Hoya: Absolutely! You do have your good times and your bad times in boxing, but in Golden Boy Promotions, you have more good times than bad.
Coyote Duran: You mentioned, of course, joining up with Winky Wright. In working with Winky, who approached whom first with the union in mind?
Oscar De La Hoya: Well, it was mutual. You know, we bring something to the table and, obviously, Winky Wright brings something to the table. Here I saw Winky Wright forming his own company and I said to myself, “My gosh! We have to applaud this great fighter for doing what he wants to do. He wants to take the same road that I’m taking.” We did go out there and extend our help, so to speak. We wanna help him form his company. We wanna guide him on how to do it. He really appreciates that and at the same time, we’re working together. We can promote his fights, obviously, along with Winky Wright Promotions, and move forward.
Coyote Duran: In taking these strides toward trying to improve the sport as a fighter as a fighter who’s been there and done everything in the ring, now that you’re on the other side of the desk part of the time, if you had all of the power to change the sport where every participant could be happy and prosperous, first and foremost, fighters, what would you do first that you haven’t already done?
Oscar De La Hoya: I think you have to deal with the organizational bodies. I think, right now, the Number One concern why we’re losing our fan base or why it’s at a halt, so to speak, is people are so confused as to who is the real champion (in any weight class). We have, I believe the last time I counted, was nine or ten organizational bodies and it’s getting to a point where people are getting drawn away from the sport because they’re just confused! I can go out to the street and pick ten people, ordinary people from the street, and ask them, “OK, who is the featherweight champion? Or “Who is the heavyweight champion?” They cannot tell you! I think that’s not really helping the sport. I think we should really focus and do something about that.
Coyote Duran: I gather that it goes without saying that it must frustrate the hell out of you when one says that the sport is dying. I couldn’t disagree more.
Oscar De La Hoya: It does frustrate me, but boxing will never die and, obviously, I know that for a fact because boxing has been around for so many years. It’s had its ups and downs and, yes, is it at a low point? It is but I don’t think boxing will ever die. Is there room for improvement and growth? Absolutely. Another reason I turned promoter is because there’s a lot of potential in the sport of boxing.
Coyote Duran: Back to your fight with Mayorga, in some way for you, do you think that the beating you handed Mayorga sent a message to all the ‘bully-type’ fighters in the sport?
Oscar De La Hoya: I think it did send a message. A lot of fighters do look up to me and a lot of fighters respect what I’ve done for the sport and what I continue doing. You know, I think a lot of fighters who were watching the fight or people within the sport were definitely observing very carefully. When I was telling people, “Look, I’m gonna stand up to the bully!” I’m gonna stand up to the fighter who talks a lot, the fighter who is bashing my family and this and that. Yeah, you know what? I stood up to him and I think that can be the secret of beating all these fighters who have a chip on their shoulders. It’s a matter of just standing up to them and fighting your fight.
Coyote Duran: Oscar, what does winning another title belt at this stage of your career mean to you? Does it make you feel younger, in a way, or, perhaps, even hungrier?
Oscar De La Hoya: I can really care less. It doesn’t really matter to me. Another belt is another belt. So be it. I mean, I can make myself another belt if I want for a lot cheaper than what I’m paying. (Both laugh.) I would rather fight for that Ring belt that obviously everybody wants in the boxing game. Everybody who’s a fighter wants that Ring belt and that’s, ultimately, the most important belt that we have today. Not only do you pay zero fees but it also recognized throughout the whole world.
Coyote Duran: Well, you know, there’s one waiting for you at welterweight, Oscar! (Carlos) Baldomir’s got it! (Both laugh.) Speaking of the welterweights, the division that you helped mold, of course, in the late-‘90s and early-2000s along with the likes of Shane Mosley and Felix Trinidad, has gotten rather interesting lately, wouldn’t you say?
Oscar De La Hoya: Oh, absolutely! I mean, right now, the welterweight division is very, very interesting. You know, it’s funny because I’ve been hearing Top Rank say how (WBO Welterweight titlist Antonio) Margarito is ‘The Most Feared Fighter On The Planet Today.’ That’s baloney! How can he be the most feared fighter on the world today when there’s tons of fighters that are lined up to fight him that wanna fight him? For instance, we have Winky Wright, who obviously challenged him, not at 158 the way they’re saying, but at 154! Why can’t he (Margarito) go up to 154? He’s called out Cory Spinks and he’s called out other fighters who’ll fight at 154. It would be a fight at 154. We also have Kassim Ouma, who, obviously, is going back down to 147 after this fight with Sechew Powell this weekend, which he is dying to fight him (Margarito). Of course, we have Ishe Smith, who came out of The Contender, who is a great talent. He’s also willing to fight him, anytime, any day, anywhere. So there’s tons of challenges out there for him and it’s a matter of making these fights. One thing that I disagree with is that they keep on calling out (Floyd) Mayweather. Well, I have to admit, who has he fought to deserve a shot at Mayweather?
Coyote Duran: But everybody’s treating Mayweather like he’s a champion and I’ve touched upon that in past articles that, basically, fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the welterweight division is a right and not a privilege. He doesn’t have a championship to speak of. I do honestly think the welters need to get everything straightened out in their division if they feel there’s something to be straightened out. Obviously, Baldomir’s the genuine champ, but they seem so ensconced in tracking down Mayweather or challenging you or Shane Mosley at 154. I think there’s so much to be busy with in the welterweight division but these fighters are getting distracted. Agree or disagree?
Oscar De La Hoya: Well, right now, Floyd Mayweather is in the driver’s seat, OK? I mean, obviously, except if he fights me. I mean, that’s a whole different story……..
Coyote Duran: (Chuckles) Oh, we’ll get to that one shortly…….
Oscar De La Hoya: If Floyd Mayweather’s gonna fight anybody, then obviously, he calls the shots. He fights whoever he wants to fight. I mean, if you ask me who his next opponent should be, I would have to say Baldomir! Baldomir, in his last two fights, has beaten (Arturo) Gatti and has he did go out and beat Zab Judah very impressively! I think it would be a great fight and, obviously, yes, Baldomir is the WBC (and recognized Ring Magazine World) champion but, obviously, Mayweather is the one who should be calling the shots and that’s the fight that, maybe, they should make next.
Coyote Duran: When you hear the comment about Margarito claiming he’s ‘The Most Feared Man In Boxing’, do you think that’s Margarito or (Margarito’s promoter) Bob Arum talking?
Oscar De La Hoya: (Laughs) Well, obviously, that’s the reason why they have a promoter. You have your promoter speaking for you. And I can understand. Bob Arum wants the best, biggest, high profile fight for his fighter, but you have to earn it. Speaking as a fighter and speaking as a promoter, I feel that Margarito hasn’t earned it! I mean, I think Baldomir has earned the shot at Mayweather. I think he might be a couple fights ahead of Margarito to earning a shot at Mayweather.
Coyote Duran: Doesn’t it seem rather backwards that the champion (like Carlos Baldomir) has to chase contenders?
Oscar De La Hoya: Well, I mean, obviously, I think right now, Mayweather has so many choices. He has so many choices that he obviously wants to get the best fight for the most amount of dollars. That’s very understandable. In today’s world, you have so many fights out there where you can make so much money and, obviously, a fight with Mayweather and Baldomir is a very attractive fight for Mayweather. Mayweather’s big prize out there would be a fight with me, which, obviously, I’m not counting out. If you ask me if it’s gonna happen,…(chuckles) uh, you know, I’m very positive it will happen!
Coyote Duran: Now that helps lead to my next question, Oscar. Who do you see fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr. first?: Shane Mosley at welterweight or, perhaps, you at a catchweight?
Oscar De La Hoya: Well, I’m sure that since I wanna leave the sport rather sooner than later, you know, a fight with me and Mayweather can be very possible and very soon. I think that a fight with me and Mayweather would be the biggest fight ever, including the heavyweight division. We’re just two fighters that bring a lot to the table and a lot of people will tune in and watch that.
Coyote Duran: In my estimation, a fight against Floyd Mayweather or a victory over Floyd Mayweather Jr. would not make you career complete, judging from your past accomplishments. To me, I guess it would merely ice the cake. Is this fight something you feel you need to complete your career with or if it happens, it happens?
Oscar De La Hoya: I think if it happens, it happens. Obviously, fighting Floyd is not gonna make or break my career. I hope I still have a place in The Hall Of Fame. I think it would be kind of like icing on the cake. It’s like putting the icing on, putting the candle on and blowing it out. It would be kind of like a perfect ending. But is it gonna make me or break me? I mean, financially? It’s not gonna do anything for me. If I beat him, obviously, it’s gonna make me a very happy camper. (Laughs)
Coyote Duran: With all the little stories and sub-conflicts behind this fight, it almost seems like a soap opera in boxing. If you were to, indeed, face Mayweather before retiring, who would you say the conflict actually involved more? You versus Floyd Jr. or Floyd Jr. versus his father (Oscar’s trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr.)? No matter what, it’s really gonna be your trainer versus his own son.
Oscar De La Hoya: Obviously, that’s a story in itself. You know, blood is thicker than water. If this fight does get made, we (Oscar and Floyd Sr.) would have to really analyze and discuss this whole situation because it would be very odd for me to be training with Floyd Sr. and he would be training me to beat up his son. I mean, what kind of father would he be or what kind of fighter would I be? I mean, it would just be very awkward. But, you know, things can be worked out. If that isn’t gonna get in the way of making this fight, I feel very confident that this fight will happen. But it can be a big distraction.
Coyote Duran: Do you believe that if the fight came off, Floyd Sr. would be hurt, to an extent?
Oscar De La Hoya: Absolutely. Floyd Sr. is such a great man. In the years that I’ve known him, I mean, he really is a good, good person inside! He really does have a great, great heart. You know, the stories that he’s been telling me about Floyd Jr. are not nice ones, not pleasant to hear. It’s like, you say to yourself after he tells you these stories, “What kind of son is he? How can a son do this to his father?” I mean, you can maybe justify if maybe Sr.. does train me to beat his son on the stories that he tells me about his son. It’s obviously, ultimately, up to the father and if he has no problem with it, then I have no problem with it.
Coyote Duran: In looking at your career, Oscar, let’s look at the big picture. Let’s not just concentrate on Floyd Mayweather or Antonio Margarito or whoever. Who would be your choice as the perfect opponent today that could close it all, ideally, for your career as a final fight?
Oscar De La Hoya: Um?……….Hmm…….As a final fight?……..I mean, truly, I think Floyd Mayweather couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. If you really think about it, he is the Pound-For-Pound champion of the world. He is undefeated. You know, he is the next, young superstar in boxing. That would be the ideal fight for me. That would the fight that really would satisfy me. Do I take it? Do I have to take it? NO, but as a fighter, it would really satisfy me just to be in there with one of the best out there in boxing.
Coyote Duran: Have you done it all in this sport or is there anything you think you’ve left undone that you haven’t touched yet?
Oscar De La Hoya: Actually, I’m very satisfied! Even if you take a look at my losses, except for the Hopkins fight (back in 2004), I’m very satisfied with what I’ve accomplished, with what I’ve done. It’s been a great career. I’m content with everything, with what I’ve done. If it’s mistakes or if it’s good things, I’m just very happy with how everything turned out. There’s no complaints from me. I’ve learned from a lot of mistakes I’ve made. I’ve grown from learning from people like Richard Schaefer, who is my CEO, and I’ve learned from the best in the game, like (promoter) Don Chargin, who is our consultant in matchmaking. It’s been a great ride and I think, as a promoter, now we’re gonna have a lot of years that are gonna be good ones and I’m looking forward to it!
Coyote Duran: Before we close this out, Oscar, are there any words for your scores of fans or the fine readers of Doghouse Boxing.com?
Oscar De La Hoya: Just watch out for Kassim Ouma, this Saturday, and watch out for Ishe Smith, who are really a big threat at 147. Again, if Margarito needs an opponent, there they are. (Chuckles)
Coyote Duran: Thank you very much for the time, Oscar. We appreciate it so much.
Oscar De La Hoya: All right, you got it! Thank you very much.
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