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Photo ©Jim Everett/SaddoBoxing
Intro and concept by Jim Everett, project managed by Daxx Khan and Jane Warburton
The World Awaits for the highly anticipated match up this Saturday between six division world champion, Oscar De La Hoya and four division world champion, Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
De La Hoya puts his WBC Light Middleweight title at stake against the #1 pound for pound fighter in the sport in what has already made a record breaking gate of $19 million selling out the 16,800 seats at the MGM Grand within hours after going on sale.
The showdown between the Golden Boy and Pretty Boy are expected to break all previous PPV and merchandising records. The heavy marketing campaign was highlighted by a four part reality series showcasing the fighters during training camp providing an excellent opportunity for non-boxing fans to get interested in the mega-fight.
Friends and family who rarely show interest in boxing have called giving their opinions of the upcoming fight as well as ask my opinion of who I think will win.
Various internet polls show a variety of opinions some favoring De La Hoya while others feeling Mayweather will dominate the fight. SaddoBoxing took a few moments to compile our thoughts and opinions to offer our predictions of the most anticipated boxing match in recent history.
Saddo: The world awaits is an apt title for this fight because I’ve been waiting for Mayweather to prove he deserves his p4p no1 spot for a few years now…he was a fantastic fighter at the lower weights but for me moving up the weight and missing out on the best fighters on the way (Cotto and Hatton) and his performances have left me less than impressed.
Mayweather ran against Baldomir amongst the boo’s because he didn’t fancy taking the power of the bigger man. But if he runs in this one, Oscar wont be chasing him around the ring like a windmill in a storm, he will be cutting the ring off and forcing the action against a guy who cant hurt him and if Mayweather decided to stand his ground to try and hush the critics, it will be over in a few rounds.
But if the sprinter turns up, Oscar will take a few more rounds to stop him. Key factors for me are natural weight and power. De La Hoya will be able to hurt Mayweather and walk through anything thrown. Mayweather will not be able to hurt De La Hoya or keep him off. De La Hoya wins via KO in under 6 rounds regardless of what version of Mayweather turns up. De La Hoya KO 6th
Curtis McCormick: Floyd will look to follow the Shane Mosley fight plan from “Sugar’s” first contest with De La Hoya but I see Oscar as being a much more mature fighter than he was six or seven years ago.
Floyd will build up a points lead early behind the jab as Oscar patiently studies his foe, focusing on the body whenever Mayweather gets within range. Floyd wont be able to hurt Oscar and this will become a factor by the midway point in the bout as De La Hoya begins to cut off the ring and step up the pressure.
As Floyd begins to tire, he’ll go to a rope-a-dope strategy but this will prove disastrous when Oscar begins to land flush shots, knocking out Mayweather in round nine. De La Hoya KO 9th
Daxx Kahn: There are so many reasons to pick each one. Mayweather has the speed. De La Hoya has the size. Floyd has the ability attack and move out of the way before his opponents know what hit them.
Oscar has the ability to draw his opponents in and fight his fight. Floyd does not have the power to hurt De La Hoya yet Oscar does not have the ability to match speed and keep Mayweather’s pace. It is almost a catch 22 when comparing each one’s disadvantages against the other’s advantage. Just as one seems up by one, the other has something or lack of something to even up the field.
I think this fight is going to come down to pride. This has gone past a fight to see who is the best. Mayweather has tried to embarrass Oscar on the press tour. De La Hoya is a proud man who, despite his nice guy persona, has a mean streak.
Anyone remember what happened to Julio Cesar Chavez and Ricardo Mayorga when they disrespected the “Golden Boy”? Chavez may have been past his prime and Mayorga not exactly a pound for pound fighter, but the point still stands.
Until the incidents that took place on the press tour, I was up in the air on who will win this one. After antics by Mayweather on the tour and the fact that De La Hoya feels Floyd insulted not only him, but his family, my decision was made for me.
When you feel you are fighting not for legacy but your family’s honor as well, it elevates you to a new level. De La Hoya by KO somewhere between the 7th and 10th rounds. De La Hoya KO.
Jane Warburton: Mayweather or De La Hoya? My question should be who do I want to win? And who do I think will win? Well, the former is easy, with a real pet-hate for arrogance, I would like De La Hoya to win. If this were a verbal war, lets face it, Mayweather would win it hands-down!
So, on one hand we have Pretty Boy Floyd, the favourite (it seems) with the better record, although less knockouts, 4 years younger and a busier past 3 years.
The Golden Boy, De La Hoya, with 4 losses to his name, now aged 34 and having fought just 3 times in the last 3 years. But let’s not forget that this is a light middleweight title and Mayweather is the welterweight…
Could that be enough to favour De La Hoya? (and is there really Life on Mars and just how long is a piece of string…?) If you’re really going to push me for an answer, I guess I would say that if De La Hoya hasn’t produced the “Golden’ result in the first half of the contest, then I think it will be a win for Mayweather. De La Hoya KO early or Mayweather decision.
Jim Everett: When I compare the two fighters, I feel that De La Hoya has the overall edge. He is naturally a bigger fighter and will most likely come into the fight weighing over 160 pounds.
Mayweather has moved up three weight divisions in the past three years and will probably not weigh beyond the 154 pound weight class during the night of the fight. Although Mayweather will still have his speed and natural ability, he does not have the punching power to hurt the larger De La Hoya. De La Hoya decision
Simon Jackson: Floyd “Pretty Boy’ Mayweather Jr is strongly favoured by British bookmakers to defeat Oscar De La Hoya at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Hotel and Casino on Saturday night and I think the oddsmen are spot on.
The 30 year old Las Vegas resident has never been beaten in his home town – or anywhere else, in a 37 bout career and I expect Mayweather, who is young, fast and has been fighting regularly at the highest level, to stop De La Hoya in the early rounds.
Mayweather franked his fine form and shrugged off the absence of his ever present uncle and trainer Roger, when beating Carlos Baldomir last November.
De La Hoya’s sole appearance since his loss to Bernard Hopkins in September 2004 was twelve months ago when he inflicted Ricardo Mayorga’s third defeat in five bouts and is not favoured to cause an upset on Saturday night. Mayweather KO early.
Rob Lewis: It is a good thing that Floyd Mayweather, Jr. has the ego that he does, and that ‘The Golden Boy’ Oscar De La Hoya has been in so many super fights in the past because i don’t think there are many fighters out there who would
be able to handle the magnitude of this fight.
Both fighters must be willing to dig deeper than they have ever had to dig before, forget how Floyd had to dig deep in the Castillo fights, how Oscar had to rally late in the Quartey fight.
Come Saturday, ‘The Golden Boy’ and ‘The Pretty Boy’ will be fighting not just for legacy and greatness, they will be fighting for boxing as a sport and anything other than a Masterclass could have massive implications on boxing as a whole.
Even though I believe that Mayweather has the edge in almost every department apart from size and power, I still see De La Hoya winning this with a late stoppage.
Oscar is Greatness, and by beating Mayweather will make his career as great as any. I expect this to be a very close fight, Oscar at times being dazzled by Mayweather’s blistering speed and skill, while Mayweather at times feeling De La Hoya’s power.
Many, even Mayweather himself, have spoken about how a win will place him with the greats, but I believe, win or lose, it will be his post fight attitude and comments that
will decide his fate.
If he can show the boxing world a humble side of himself and praise his opponent no matter the outcome, people will forgive him for things that they have previously questioned and place him rightfully in his place with the greats of boxing’s past. De La Hoya KO late.
Sean A. Malone: When this fight was initially announced, my first thought was that De La Hoya must have partied with Bobby and Whitney the night before. Why else would a 34 year old promoter/fighter (notice how “promoter” is typed first) who fights once a year would challenge the current pound-for-pound king who posses’ speed that leaves NASCAR drivers envious?
With little doubt, this is the biggest fight in recent pugilism history and is doing a wonderful job thrusting our beloved sport into the mainstream media. My days at my office are filled with questions regarding the fight from people who I hadn’t watched a fight since Tyson vs. Holyfield. This is exactly what boxing needs at this time.
So who do I favor to win this battle of boxing’s best? Before I make my pick, let me weigh some of the thoughts on the bout.
This is a huge event. The magnitude and exposure that this stage presents is by far the biggest in Floyd Mayweather’s career. I though that with the eyes of the world fixated on him, his nerves may give Oscar the slight edge needed to overtake the “Pretty Boy”.
Then I watched 24/7 on HBO. As the show projects, it is apparent that Mayweather is an egomaniacal sociopath and as such impervious to the butterflies that most would feel in the pits of their guts under similar circumstances.
Yet I digress, so who do I like in this fight? I am going with the pick of Floyd Mayweather Jr. by 12 round unanimous decision. Floyd’s blinding speed and uncanny ring generalship will keep De La Hoya respectful all night.
In addition, I think that the extra bulk Mayweather is adding to his frame may slow his punches a tad but even as such you have a better chance of resurrecting the career of Britney Spears than timing the Pretty One. I will end on this thought; De La Hoya in his prime would stop a Mayweather Jr. Unfortunately sans a flux capacitor, such thinking is a mute point. Mayweather UD 12
Adam Matson: Oscar De La Hoya is far removed from his days as a great pressure fighter. Once upon a time, his strong double and triple jabs followed by a right hand while moving forward were the staples of his punch arsenal.
Now, he’s more dependant on the lead left hook, and with a game more predicated on timing and power, he faces a tall task in solving Floyd Mayweather.
Mayweather avoids the first punch perhaps better then anyone in boxing, whether it is while he moves inside, out or side to side. Whether or not De La Hoya can time Mayweather in transition will be the story of the fight.
Mayweather will be trying to move inside, flurry and then back out all night long. His faster hands, faster feet, supreme reflexes and smart punch selection will all prove to drown out the areas of the fight where De La Hoya holds the edge.
It should be an exciting fight because Mayweather will have to be on the inside with the shorter punches quite a bit which will make for some tremendous exchanges. I predict a wide unanimous decision victory for the younger Mayweather. Mayweather UD 12.
Peter E. Porto: After spending years on his extended journey, Floyd will finally get his ticket punched for his return trip to earth.
In over ten years as a pro, Mayweather has never faced a fighter with the attributes of De La Hoya. Not only will Oscar have advantages in height and reach, but in power and experience as well. And while Oscar has been in there with the world’s pound-for-pound best before, the reverse it not true.
Not only is Floyd facing someone of this size, strength and skill for the first time in his career, he’s doing it in his first attempt at 154 pounds, well above his optimum career weight.
Oscar will be able to use his advantages in reach and physical strength to cut Floyd off, control his movement and negate what speed advantage exists. He will begin by using his jab to test Floyd from the outside, but it will not take long for Oscar to turn it into a game of power vs. speed and, in the end, Oscar will prove much better equipped to deal with Floyd’s speed, than will be Floyd with Oscar’s power. De La Hoya KO 7th.
Ted Sares: Oscar has fought a better level of opposition and is bigger. He is an orthodox fighter who looks to land a devastating left hook following stiff jabs, but the edge here goes to Floyd who is the complete package blessed with speed, stamina, power, sharp punching, a solid chin and great defense.
He has old school moves, and his superior speed and great counter punching ability should give him the advantage in any furious exchanges but he needs to be careful of that left hook.
Last minute issues between Roger and Floyd Senior could be unsettling, but Floyd has a pedigree and focus. Oscar, however has been taken out once and looked bad against Sturm. The Mayorga fight should be discounted because Mayorga was over hyped. Oscar has been in many mega fights and has great focus as well.
The fight will end up being overly tactical, unless Oscar can use his size to back Floyd up in which case could spell big trouble for PBF. But if Floyd begins to punish Oscar with quick in and out shots he will prevail.
Styles can make fights and the styles here suggest a less than exciting fight. Floyd’s skills, style, speed and career momentum will result in a UD victory. Mayweather UD 12.
Phil Santos: Along with his crazy speed and boxing skills, Floyd Jr. has to be the best trash-talker the sport has seen since Ali. I’m sure Oscar has never felt so disrespected or taken so lightly by any opponent in his entire career.
De La Hoya is a great champion who needs no additional motivation in order to get ready for the biggest fight of his life (and he’s been in a few). Yes, he’s been in this situation before but what worries me is the fact that he has come up short against Hopkins, Mosley and Trinidad.
The Hopkins loss I can forgive due to his size but the losses to Mosley and Trinidad are major blemishes and fights I felt Oscar would fare better in.
Mayweather may not possess the pop that Mosley and Trinidad do, but his speed and boxing skills are one of a kind. Floyd’s hand issues could be a deciding factor and even if not, I can’t see him hurting Oscar. I can see Floyd winning some rounds early with hand speed and movement then Oscar wearing him down for a late stoppage. I’m going to pick Oscar by TKO somewhere around the 8th or 9th round. De La Hoya TKO.
Michael Worden: De La Hoya has more experience, is bigger and has the better resume. But Floyd is just way too fast and slick. Mayweather is exactly the type of fighter that Oscar has had trouble with his entire career.
The size will not be an issue here. Many people point to the fact that Floyd is moving up to 154 and Oscar is naturally bigger. But people are forgetting that both men started their careers at 130.
I look for Oscar to win the first three rounds. Floyd will then do what he does, he won’t get too close and it could be an exact replica of the Baldomir fight. I think that there is a high probability that it could even get a little boring. But the atmosphere and scale of the bout will help that out. Mayweather UD 12.
Anthony Roberts: This is a true super fight in that a superstar at the end of an illustrious, Hall of Fame career is taking on the new young brash superstar in the sport.
These two fighters couldn’t be any more different when it comes to personality and public opinion. De La Hoya is the darling of the boxing world having reached the pinnacle of the sport both as an amateur and as a professional, holding world titles in and unprecedented six different weight classes.
Mayweather also attended the Olympics as an amateur and has himself held world titles in four different weight classes, however he is the charming De La Hoya’s polar opposite when it comes to personality. He is more of an aggressive in your face type who seems to
have succeeded in getting under the usually cool De La Hoya’s skin.
Mayweather has the natural skills and speed as well as defensive prowess to give De La Hoya all the problems he can handle, where as De La Hoya brings natural size and technical ability to the table as well as vastly more super fight experience.
Out of all De La Hoya’s opponents, Mayweather can be mostly compared style wise to Shane Mosley, who is one of the fastest fighters pound for pound in the world, although I believe that he is not as fast as Mayweather.
This I feel will be the key to a Mayweather points victory on Saturday night. Mayweather will use his speed to slip in and out of range to land with his laser fast combinations, while De La Hoya will have to be content to hit arms, gloves and thin air.
De La Hoya may have his moments in this, one of the most eagerly anticipated super fights in history but will finish well beaten by boxings newest superstar Pretty boy Floyd Mayweather Jnr. Mayweather decision.
Matt Cotterell: I hope I’m wrong, but I can see nothing other than a Mayweather victory come the 5th.
Whilst the physical advantages lie with Oscar De La Hoya it will be Mayweather who brings the speed and relative youth to the table and its something that I can see the Golden Boy struggling to come to terms with.
De La Hoya has his Sunday punch, the left hook, in his arsenal but he has to find a way to land it against one of the top three or four defences in the game.
Mayweather of course is coming up in weight again and there is the possibility that he could have bitten off more than he can chew.
I cant see that being the case though, I’ve said before that Mayweather has weight defying skills and it will be apparent once again when he picks and pokes away at De La Hoya over the championship distance to run out the unanimous points winner.
Mayweather is hard to like, Oscar De La Hoya will soon find out that he is even harder to beat. Mayweather decision.
