Boxing Preview Analysis: Oscar De La Hoya – Ricardo Mayorga

The “Golden Boy” meets “El Matador” this weekend at the MGM Grand Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada!

Twenty months after his last ring outing, Oscar De La Hoya once again laces up the gloves and challenges Nicaraguan Ricardo Mayorga for his WBC Light Middleweight crown. De La Hoya, now 33, has done it all in the world of boxing. Olympic Champion at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, he turned pro later that year and in only his 13th

professional fight stopped Jimmy Bredahl to win his first world title at super featherweight in March 1994. The stay at super featherweight was a short one. Just four months later he captured the vacant WBO Featherweight title by blasting out veteran Jorge Paez in two short rounds.

The lightweight division saw him make six successful defences between 1994 and 1995. The names on his record were starting to become more well known. Opponents such as Juan Molina, Rafael Ruelas, Genaro Hernandez and Jesse James Leija were dealt with before he moved up to face to a living legend.

After cleaning up the lightweight division, De La Hoya moved up to light welter and on 7 June 1996 outdoors at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas he busted up Mexican superstar Julio Cesar Chavez in four bloody rounds to win the WBC Light Welterweight title. One defence later De La Hoya was on the move again.

Another living legend stood in his way at 147 and after twelve highly skilled rounds at the Thomas and Mack Center in April 1997, Oscar outpointed Pernell Whitaker to win his fourth world title. De La Hoya would spend four years at welter tangling with such names as Hector Camacho, Chavez in a rematch and Ike Quartey before the superfight with hard hitting IBF rival Felix Trinidad in September 1999.

The fight was being compared with Leonard – Hearns I and took place almost 18 years to the day of that legendary 1981 bout, but to be honest the fight was disappointment. If ever a man snatched defeat from the jaws of victory it was De La Hoya as he spent the last rounds back pedaling, thinking he had done enough to win the fight. He hadn’t and Trinidad had inflicted the first professional defeat to the Golden Boy on a twelve round decision.

After one comeback win, he faced another superstar in the making. Sugar Shane Mosley would challenge De La Hoya in June 2000. This time the bout was being compared to Duran – Leonard I of June 1980. The dominant lightweight meets the glamour welterweight. The bout didn’t dissappoint and although Sugar Shane won a twelve round split decision, it was a contender for fight of the year.

Since then De La Hoya has won titles at light middleweight and middleweight. His biggest win at light mddleweight was an 11th round knockout of fierce rival Fernando Vargas in his last great performance. He lost the title a year later in a controversial points loss to old rival Shane Mosley in a fight many thought Oscar had won.

The middleweights beckoned in 2004 for Oscar and he was gifted a decision against German Felix Sturm in June of that year before he was tempted by the ultimate challenge, the undisputed 160 pound king Bernard Hopkins. To his credit Oscar got himself in better shape but ultimately that was not enough as a body shot in the ninth ended his challenge.

Many thought (me for one) that was the end of the Golden Boy’s career as he pursued interests outside the ring, but now he’s back to try and win another title.

Opponent Ricardo Mayorga was born the same year as Oscar in 1973 and has been a pro since 1993. Although he has not won as many titles as De La Hoya, make no mistake he is dangerous. Some might call him bizarre or a loose cannon. He first won a world title by knocking out Andrew “Sixheads” Lewis in five rounds during a rematch in 2002 for the WBA Welterweight strap He annihilated WBC rival Vernon Forrest in three to unify before repeating the win six months later.

After losing the belts to IBF champ Cory Spinks in December 2003 on a close decision, Mayorga has fought three times. The most memorable was in October 2004 in a game display against Felix Trinidad before losing in eight. In his next fight, he picked up the vacant WBC 154 pound crown which he now defends against De La Hoya.

So does El Matador have enough to stop the Golden Boy? Pedigree and big fight experience massively favours Oscar. He has fought the better grade of opponent, has faced every style and in Mayorga’s case has heard all these pre fight boasts a million times before. Mayorga knows he has to get under Oscar’s skin and he certainly has.

Mayorga is strong and brave and as stated before has talked up a storm. I think however this could be his undoing. Far from being a rich ex champion fighting for another payday, Oscar is hungry. This reminds me of the Vargas fight four years ago and I’ve got a hunch De La Hoya will put in a similar performance.

I can’t see past a De La Hoya win here. Hes not coming back to lose and in no way wants to damage his already legendary status. The Golden Boy for me has too much ability and variety in his work and is too experienced to let Mayorga’s taunts affect his performance in a negative way. If anything it will do the opposite and will spur him on for a late stoppage win.