Oscar's best hire: The 2nd craziest fighter in the world
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By Lester Bedford (March 5, 2006)
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So why has the Oscar De La Hoya vs Ricardo Mayorga fight became so much more interesting than I had initially imagined? Although somewhat of a risky fight for Oscar, I first assumed it was a sound business proposition. You know – fight a guy that provides an opportunity to add a ninth world title, presents a necessary aura of danger but is very vulnerable himself, and finally, hope he’s a fighter that can help hype the fight.
As we approach Saturday night’s fight, Mayorga as Oscar’s opponent now looks to be one of the greatest choices in the history of free enterprise. Forget the boxing part. Not only are fight fans falling out of trees to buy tickets and the HBO pay-per-view broadcast, it appears we now have a real fight on our hands.
And much of the credit goes to Oscar’s new CFO (Crazy Financial Officer), Mr. Mayorga, the world’s second craziest fighter.
BUSINESS ECONOMICS 101
Flash back to Bernard Hopkins for proof that Oscar has been the beneficiary of many sound business decisions. Heck, I’m one of the goofs that sent Oscar’s company CEO, Richard Schaefer, an email encouraging him to make the fight with Bernard Hopkins, when most were saying it was a stupid fight for Oscar. Not that they needed my advice or even read the email. But in the end, they pulled the right economic trigger. No question, it was a hell of a call by Oscar and Schaefer to fight Hopkins, especially when he had nothing to lose in a fight which few gave him a chance to win. I can give you 30,000,000 reasons (or dollars) why that was the perfect storm for Oscar. In the end, he lives for another day. Pay-day, that is.
And to think that neither Oscar nor Schaefer ever attended FPU (Fight Promoter University).
Flash forward to the March press tour announcing the De La Hoya vs Mayorga fight. I often get called on to organize media conferences for major boxing press tours, primarily in Texas. Back in March, I got the call to organize the stop in Houston. So I’m standing at this media conference in Houston, scratching my head and wondering how such a technically limited fighter rose from the streets of Nicaragua to standing on boxing’s biggest stage with boxing’s biggest star (Oscar).
Come on, the guy (Mayorga) is a big puncher by accident and is - at best - the most accomplished street fighter I’ve ever seen. Ricardo Mayorga is the uncrowned Tough Man Champion of the Galaxy, not world. He was cage fighting before they invented cage fighting.
So how did we all end up here listening to this goof and believing...”boy, that Oscar is in some kind of trouble?” OK, he presents danger and intrigue. Yeah, I agree. However, what I eventually took from that media event was stuff that should have landed Oscar and Schaefer on the cover of Forbes magazine, not The Ring. Talk about Monetary Vision.
After the dust had settled and the clean-up crew was done sweeping Mayorga’s verbal crap from the streets of Houston, I had no doubt that the Managua Motor Mouth was the Golden Boy’s best hire – EVER. Oscar has some great people around him, with Schaefer heading the list, but none will make him more money this year than the “2006 ATM Machine of the Year,” Ricardo Mayorga. Here’s to hoping for a .280 hitter and ending up with Ted Williams in your lineup.
SILVER MEDALIST MAYORGA
But I left Houston confused that day. Either Mayorga is the greatest actor in the world or just the second craziest fighter ever. I was goofy enough to believe the guy really meant what he said. He said it with so much conviction. But then again, I don’t speak Spanish so I can only assume. So I went with - the second craziest fighter. But who could possibly be crazier than Mayorga and send a fight into orbit the way Mayorga has?
Flash back this time to 1999. I’m reminded of when former #1 World Jr. middleweight contender, Tony Ayala, Jr. came out of prison after 16 years and I was hired to manage/market his first comeback fight. There was a mountain of hype in Ayala’s hometown of San Antonio for his first fight back at the age of 36. Obviously, all involved were hoping for something close to a sellout. But then matchmaker Wayne Harrison accidentally made a “De La Hoya-isk” business decision. Unknowingly (when the fight was made), we stumbled into the cockiest low life cock roach of an opponent you could envision.
Meet Manuel Esparza, an ordinary fighter from Oklahoma with a 19-5 record. Couldn’t fight much, but boy, this kid had balls - deluxe. It’s one thing to throw verbal darts at a nice guy like Oscar, but to do it to an ex-con like Ayala? “Man, I don’t know dog,” sighed American Idol judge, Randy Jackson.
Fortunately, I can’t print the worst of what Esparza said. I do remember something about “homos in prison”, if you get my drift. By the time this 21 year old, mullet-haired punk was done trash talkin’ old man Ayala the entire week of the fight, I was on isle 82 at Walmart, shopping for stretchers for the old Coliseum walls. Yeah, Ayala was the star, but the rotten Okie kid guaranteed a sellout of 11,000.
Esparza can count his blessings he lived long enough for the bell to ring, much less afterwards. Believe me – Daddy Ayala took him to the Alamo City woodshed, big time. Ayala blasted Esparza out in three rounds, despite a very spirited and entertaining effort by Esparza.
Oh, that darn Manuel Esparza - ticked everyone off to the extent they were willing to spend the baby’s formula money to witness a good old fashioned butt whuppin. What nasty diamond in the rough he was. Sound familiar?
EXORCISING THE DEMONS OF FELIX STURM
Now that Mayorga has incited his own two-man riot, the question is -- did he change the dynamics of the fight before the first bell? Has Mayorga inflamed Oscar to the extent that the Golden Boy is more motivated than ever to take this maniac from Managua to the gold domed wood shed at the MGM.
According to Oscar’s advisor and mentor, Hall of Fame promoter, Don Chargin, Mayorga has gone above and beyond mining gold for Oscar with that cavernous potty mouth.
“Mayorga really did a job on Oscar’s head,” Chargin told me. “Oscar is more motivated for this fight than any fight I can remember. This is what he needed to get up for this fight. The guys at Golden Boy told me that he’s had a great camp and is in great condition. If Oscar wasn’t that motivated before, he is now.”
So now we know, we officially have a real rumble between two psyched fighters. The curse of Felix Sturm is over. Thank you Mr. Mayorga – signed, Oscar fans.
MATCHMAKING 101
All PhD’s in Boxing Economics aside, the bottom line is – the fighters still have to fight the fight. Now remember, I said Oscar and gang were smart businessmen, but I never claimed they were world renowned matchmakers. The Sturm fight didn’t turn out to be the ballroom dance they had hoped for. And perhaps beating Hopkins was a hopeless ring dream from the start.
So how the heck is Oscar finally going to turn one of these bull market deals into a windfall in the ring? Well, it’s not going to be easy trying to decipher this raging buffoon as he hurls his body and slings insults at you the entire fight. Oh yeah, it will be cup check time. If nothing else, Mayorga presents a multitude of problems for any fighter, even the great ones like Oscar.
RX FOR THE INSANE
OK, after deep consultation with some trainer friends and good ole observation and gut instinct, here’s what I believe are the keys for Oscar to recapture his Boxing Soul. Now keep in mind - if Oscar didn’t get any sleep while tending to the new baby, as he stated on Jay Leno, all bets are off.
1 Don’t go Vernon Forest and get wrapped up in trading with Mayorga. He’s much too unpredictable and durable in exchanges. Remember, he’s crazy. Don’t go crazy with no crazy man.
2 Box, Box, Box from a distance, but don’t run. You know you have never been in shape for that. Keeping your distance from Mayorga will reduce the risk of Mayorga landing those lunging shots, as well as head butts, elbows and low blows. Easier to take one step back than three.
3 Keep Mayorga on the end of the jab - all night, brother. I don’t have to tell you the value of a jab against a Wildman.
4 Keep the fight in the middle of the ring. Stay off the ropes. If necessary, tie him up, walk him back to the middle of the ring and hope he doesn’t go Mike Tyson on your ear.
5 Go to the body early and often. It may not have any effect early, but will pay huge dividends later in the fight. Show me a man that that smokes two packs of cigarettes, drinks a case of beer a day and claims he can take body shots over 10-12 rounds, and I will show you a liar. Being clean for the last 3 months doesn’t matter.
6. Keep the uppercut loaded and let it go when the opportunity presents itself. Save one for that payback shot, just south of Laredo.
7. In summary, what the heck, just go Felix Trinidad (methodical Mayorga version) on him for one hour.
As for Mayorga, don’t bother to ask. He has to do the only thing he can, go Postal for the 35th fight in a row and hope he lands a freak bomb or two. But hey, I’m not wasting my breath and cell phone minutes on the second craziest fighter in the world. After all, he ain’t no Manual Esparza.
OH NO, WE HAVE A DOUBLE WINNER
Oscar wins – the fight by unanimous decision.
Mayorga wins – as newly appointed President of Golden Boy Promotions - Nicaragua. Yes sir, pay backs are still a bit_h.
Re: Oscar's best hire: The 2nd craziest fighter in the world
an interesting article....for sure if oscar can box smart and be on top of his game then he wins....
this isnt a perfect world though, and there are many variables at play....can oscar still be at his best? i dont think so...
i think at this point in time mayorga is able to stop DLH....
Re: Oscar's best hire: The 2nd craziest fighter in the world
Quote:
Originally Posted by miles
an interesting article....for sure if oscar can box smart and be on top of his game then he wins....
Agreed. :coolclick:
Quote:
Originally Posted by miles
this isnt a perfect world though, and there are many variables at play....can oscar still be at his best? i dont think so...
Disagree. I believe that Oscar can still be good...but not his best...those days are done.
Quote:
Originally Posted by miles
i think at this point in time mayorga is able to stop DLH....
Not I. Oscar's still a great...you don't just stop being great over a few points losses. The ko loss was a body shot & he was still showing flashes of old Oscar before Hopkins dropped him.
People are a bit too critical...I'm even guilty myself...but Oscar still has what it takes...the question is...can he get it back for just 12 rounds?
Re: Oscar's best hire: The 2nd craziest fighter in the world
Quote:
Originally Posted by wacko3205
Quote:
Originally Posted by miles
an interesting article....for sure if oscar can box smart and be on top of his game then he wins....
Agreed. :coolclick:
Quote:
Originally Posted by miles
this isnt a perfect world though, and there are many variables at play....can oscar still be at his best? i dont think so...
Disagree. I believe that Oscar can still be good...but not his best...those days are done.
Quote:
Originally Posted by miles
i think at this point in time mayorga is able to stop DLH....
Not I. Oscar's still a great...you don't just stop being great over a few points losses. The ko loss was a body shot & he was still showing flashes of old Oscar before Hopkins dropped him.
People are a bit too critical...I'm even guilty myself...but Oscar still has what it takes...the question is...can he get it back for just 12 rounds?
thanks, wacko...clicked ya back ;)
its given that oscar is not going to be able to be in his prime, but the question is how far below his best is he now? 20 months is a long time and we can only guess how much he has left....the opening rounds will answer that one soon enough.....
mayorga needs to be at his best if he is to win, he cannot allow himself to be anything else or else he loses...
