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Pretty Boys Will Be Pretty Boys
Massive Photo Gallery ©Gerald Rice/SaddoBoxing
Detroit marked the fifth stop of the promotional tour of “The World Awaits”, the much anticipated showdown between Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr., scheduled for May 5 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. The press conference started almost an hour late, but it was well worth it.
Bob Halloran, President of MGM Mirage, came to the podium first and spoke about the record breaking financial numbers that this fight had already generated and odds showing “Pretty Boy” as the current favorite.
HBO PPV specialist Mark Taffet then spoke of the comprehensive marketing plan that every man, woman and child will be hard pressed to miss as publicity materials will be plastered across every gas station, residence, warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse and doghouse.
Even late comer Tommy Hearns had a few words to say, jokingly offering his services to the highest interested bidder, but the real story begins when the men of the hour stepped up to the podium.
“Come May 5th, it’s about putting a stamp on my legacy,” Floyd Mayweather Jr. said. “It comes down to the Pretty Boy versus the Golden Boy”. He was measured in his assessment of De La Hoya’s abilities saying, “I’m not saying Oscar De La Hoya’s not a good fighter… he makes a lot of mistakes.”
Mayweather reiterated his statements from the Zab Judah press conference, saying, “There are three things that make a champ: the heart, the chin and the mind,” and quickly closed with a taunt, saying, “Step up to the plate, you bum,” before striding back to his seat with that well known smirk for which he’s famous.
De La Hoya was a man of few words and said as much, but he got a rise out of his opponent when he turned to him and repeated, “May 5th,” over and over again while looking at Mayweather and shaking his fist. They argued briefly, but tempers were soon extinguished and after a face-to-face at the center of the podium, the press conference dissolved into two camps with De La Hoya going back stage and Mayweather staying out front.
And then it got interesting.
Mayweather was confident as usual, fielding questions from a throng of surrounding reporters with tape recorders, cameras and note pads in tow. He was a lot more congenial than we’ve been told in the past that he was capable of.
“Roger [Mayweather] will be in my corner,” said Mayweather. “He comes home the beginning of March. Training camp starts at the beginning of March.”
Floyd answered all questions, standard and controversial, including mine regarding worry over a decision automatically being in favor of the Golden Boy.
“We’re goin’ head up,” he said with a slight shake of his head. “It was best if he had kept my daddy in his corner. I’m gon’ take my time, keep my composure; break down the body. Right now I’m at 150.”
“We’re makin’ enough money to pay everyone in our camp $2 million dollars. Larry Merchant is the worst commentator in history—write that down.”
“De La Hoya’s a straight up and down fighter with no special effects. I have special effects. He’s been nothin’ but a spoiled brat. He’s been an asshole.”
Wait. What? De La Hoya’s supposed to be the nice one of the two; what was Floyd talking about?
Mayweather went on to explain how De La Hoya says how he loves the fans and the media, but behind our collective backs he gives us the finger, such as how he (Oscar) wanted the press only at the conferences but they were opened to the public only at Mayweather’s insistence and that De La Hoya’s private jet was probably taxing as he spoke, while his own was still waiting on the runway.
“I love the fans,” said Mayweather “That’s why I’m still here.”
At some point I realized that De La Hoya’s side had gone silent because he had left. Mayweather also said how he wanted the fans to be able to touch him and grabbed the hands of a few reporters and fans and put them to his body in an embrace and smiled again.
An amateur fighter of about 11 years old came to him and raised a pen with a boxing glove already signed by De La Hoya. “I can’t sign that,” Floyd said. “He already did. Bring me another one.”
“But it’s the only one I have,” the boy said.
Mayweather considered for a moment, signaled for the boy to hand him the items and signed beneath Oscar’s name. It was worthy of a double-take. While on the one hand being supremely confident in his abilities to the point of arrogance, Mayweather used equal parts humility in addressing his fans and anyone else who was within listening distance.
Extricating myself from the mass of bodies pressed as close as possible, I caught sight of another boy seeking advice. He was difficult to hear, so Floyd leaned in and listened, really listened and explained how he went to the gym almost every day and would cry on Sundays because he couldn’t go.
“By 17 I was the best fighter in the country,” said Mayweather.
So Floyd was still Floyd. Only not. But as I pulled away, making my way out of Cobo Center and onto Jefferson, he was still there, having word with whomever would listen and showing not everything we’ve heard about him is to be believed.
