Did people really believe De La Hoya could beat Floyd?

[Master]

Can't remember if it was Oscar v Floyd or Manny Pac, where I thought it was a gross mismatch in De La Hoya favour.

Whatever Golden Boys faults these two fights were at the end of his career and he did take on the biggest challenges wherever possible.

[Primo Carnera]

Can't remember if it was Oscar v Floyd or Manny Pac, where I thought it was a gross mismatch in De La Hoya favour.

Whatever Golden Boys faults these two fights were at the end of his career and he did take on the biggest challenges wherever possible.

It was probably v Floyd because let’s face it, you hate Floyd.
I think Floyd had to concede everything to get the fight , Oscar used all his “A side” status. The fight was at 154, Floyd weighed in at 150 and was 148 on fight night!
I’m gonna have to rewatch the fight because I can’t remember it being as close as people suggest. I thought Floyd won pretty clear, and all I can remember was Oscar constantly rabbit punching Floyd in the clinches.
Seriously though, it’s unlikely it was Pacquiao, because he conceded almost everything to Pac.
I remember at the time thinking that Oscar with all his influence at the time, didn’t use any of it in negotiating the Pac fight.
He was towards the end of his career and he boiled down to Pac’s weight. Never a good idea as you get older.
He just didn’t have to concede his legacy like that. Very odd.

[The Six Four]

When De La Hoya vs. Pacquiao was first announced, I saw it as a complete mismatch—until I learned it would be at welterweight. Even then, I still favored De La Hoya, believing he had enough left to handle the naturally smaller man. I agree with Primo Carnera that Oscar was still in the driver's seat for the Floyd fight negotiations, as that was the bout that cemented Mayweather’s A-side status. It was surprising to see Oscar concede so much in the Pacquiao negotiations. A few years earlier, Golden Boy had attempted to sign Manny and even announced the deal before it fell apart. I wonder if Oscar’s concessions were a play to lure Pacquiao into his stable long-term.