NOTES ON FLOYD-OSCAR “CHESS MATCH”
06 May,2007 by Reylan Loberternos
“PRETTY BOY” OUTPACES “GOLDEN BOY”!
Tagbilaran City, RP – “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (38-0-0, 24 KOs) kept his unbeaten slate as he eked out a split decision victory over a game, but evidently outpaced “Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya (38-5-0, 30 KOs). Both fighters stuck to their respective game plans early on, with De La Hoya having the better of the exchanges, utilizing his jab and his left hooks to the breadbasket of the very elusive Mayweather.
OSCAR SAYS “IT WAS ONE OF THOSE NIGHTS”
“It was one of those nights.” This was what the erstwhile defending WBC super welterweight champ said in the post fight interview with HBO’s Larry Merchant, referring to his “sudden” abandoning of his jab. In the first seven rounds, Oscar efficiently utilized his “effective reach” advantage by throwing jabs that somehow staved off Mayweather’s relatively few, but carefully measured attacks. In my scorecards, De La Hoya did enough to win rounds 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7. The fourth and seventh cantos showcased the perfect strategy that the Golden Boy should have utilized throughout the fight. He effectively blocked Mayweather’s stinging jabs with his gloves and arms during that stretch.
THEN CAME THE EIGHTH AND ONWARDS!
While Oscar was slowly sidetracking from his initially successful fight strategy, Floyd wisely and patiently stuck to his game plan, using his lightning quick reflexes. Mayweather moved around the ring and fought from a distance. De La Hoya kept moving forward, but only this time, he was moving in without throwing his jabs, which apparently turned out to be a very big mistake. This paved the way for Mayweather to accurately measure his foe and beat him to the punch with precise jabs and right hooks to the head and mid-section.
CONDITIONING WON IT FOR FLOYD!
While it can’t be denied that Floyd probably has the best defense and natural skills in the business, his superb conditioning definitely did him well for this particular encounter, too. Going into the tenth round, De La Hoya was visibly exhausted from his non-stop stalking of speedy Mayweather. Floyd, on the other hand, still looked as fresh as he was in the first round. Those crisp body shots he received in the earlier rounds coming from a De La Hoya left hook, including ten consecutive to the side of the belly in the fourth, could have taken their toll on him in the later rounds had he not been in excellent condition.
FLOYD “MASTERED” THE ART OF CLINCHING!
Caught in the ropes to the delight of the pro-De La Hoya crowd, Mayweather would get himself out of trouble by pinning Golden Boy’s arms to halt the attack. Referee Kenny Bayless, who did a great job officiating the event, would immediately step in and provide Mayweather enough space to avoid another assault from De La Hoya. One other thing that aided and abetted Pretty Boy was his tremendous composure. He displayed remarkable poise especially every time he was faced with a De La Hoya onslaught.
LAST ROUND TOO CLOSE TO CALL
The final round was close. It could have spelled the difference between a win and a draw (at least on my scorecard). Nevertheless, while everybody probably expected Floyd to just cruise and dance it out till the sound of the final bell, he somehow did the unexpected. Floyd duked it out with Oscar, throwing and receiving some, the way great fights should be fought.
BOTH CORNERS DID A SPLENDID JOB!
It is also but fitting to recognize the impressive way Freddie Roach and Roger Mayweather handled their respective pugs. Freddie never failed to remind De La Hoya to throw his jab, while Roger kept on telling Floyd to continue fighting the way he did and just stick to the plan. The only difference was on how each fighter absorbed his corner’s instructions. Fatigue might have played a huge role, as Floyd, the leaps and bounds better-conditioned athlete, was able to execute them from start to finish unlike De La Hoya who faded in the later rounds.
DID BOXING DRAW MORE FANS?
Winning the fight might be one thing, but winning the fans is certainly something else. The Mayweather – De La Hoya fight card has broken box office records and could go down in history as the most anticipated boxing event of this era. After the massively hyped show, has Floyd Mayweather, Jr.’s victory won him more fans? On a larger scale, has that particular event injected new life and improved fan base to what many consider as a dying sport?
HAS FLOYD ANSWERED HIS CRITICS AS WELL?
With Mayweather’s win over De La Hoya, has the world’s top fighter, in one way or another, already answered his critics regarding his perceived deficiency in quality of his choice of opposition? Noting that the De La Hoya who fought Mayweather was considerably bigger and most probably better than Cotto, Hatton, or Margarito? Was Floyd right in saying that he has nothing left to prove in this sport of boxing? Make yourselves heard, boxing fans!
“PRETTY BOY” OUTPACES “GOLDEN BOY”!
Tagbilaran City, RP – “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (38-0-0, 24 KOs) kept his unbeaten slate as he eked out a split decision victory over a game, but evidently outpaced “Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya (38-5-0, 30 KOs). Both fighters stuck to their respective game plans early on, with De La Hoya having the better of the exchanges, utilizing his jab and his left hooks to the breadbasket of the very elusive Mayweather.
OSCAR SAYS “IT WAS ONE OF THOSE NIGHTS”
“It was one of those nights.” This was what the erstwhile defending WBC super welterweight champ said in the post fight interview with HBO’s Larry Merchant, referring to his “sudden” abandoning of his jab. In the first seven rounds, Oscar efficiently utilized his “effective reach” advantage by throwing jabs that somehow staved off Mayweather’s relatively few, but carefully measured attacks. In my scorecards, De La Hoya did enough to win rounds 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7. The fourth and seventh cantos showcased the perfect strategy that the Golden Boy should have utilized throughout the fight. He effectively blocked Mayweather’s stinging jabs with his gloves and arms during that stretch.
THEN CAME THE EIGHTH AND ONWARDS!
While Oscar was slowly sidetracking from his initially successful fight strategy, Floyd wisely and patiently stuck to his game plan, using his lightning quick reflexes. Mayweather moved around the ring and fought from a distance. De La Hoya kept moving forward, but only this time, he was moving in without throwing his jabs, which apparently turned out to be a very big mistake. This paved the way for Mayweather to accurately measure his foe and beat him to the punch with precise jabs and right hooks to the head and mid-section.
CONDITIONING WON IT FOR FLOYD!
While it can’t be denied that Floyd probably has the best defense and natural skills in the business, his superb conditioning definitely did him well for this particular encounter, too. Going into the tenth round, De La Hoya was visibly exhausted from his non-stop stalking of speedy Mayweather. Floyd, on the other hand, still looked as fresh as he was in the first round. Those crisp body shots he received in the earlier rounds coming from a De La Hoya left hook, including ten consecutive to the side of the belly in the fourth, could have taken their toll on him in the later rounds had he not been in excellent condition.
FLOYD “MASTERED” THE ART OF CLINCHING!
Caught in the ropes to the delight of the pro-De La Hoya crowd, Mayweather would get himself out of trouble by pinning Golden Boy’s arms to halt the attack. Referee Kenny Bayless, who did a great job officiating the event, would immediately step in and provide Mayweather enough space to avoid another assault from De La Hoya. One other thing that aided and abetted Pretty Boy was his tremendous composure. He displayed remarkable poise especially every time he was faced with a De La Hoya onslaught.
LAST ROUND TOO CLOSE TO CALL
The final round was close. It could have spelled the difference between a win and a draw (at least on my scorecard). Nevertheless, while everybody probably expected Floyd to just cruise and dance it out till the sound of the final bell, he somehow did the unexpected. Floyd duked it out with Oscar, throwing and receiving some, the way great fights should be fought.
BOTH CORNERS DID A SPLENDID JOB!
It is also but fitting to recognize the impressive way Freddie Roach and Roger Mayweather handled their respective pugs. Freddie never failed to remind De La Hoya to throw his jab, while Roger kept on telling Floyd to continue fighting the way he did and just stick to the plan. The only difference was on how each fighter absorbed his corner’s instructions. Fatigue might have played a huge role, as Floyd, the leaps and bounds better-conditioned athlete, was able to execute them from start to finish unlike De La Hoya who faded in the later rounds.
DID BOXING DRAW MORE FANS?
Winning the fight might be one thing, but winning the fans is certainly something else. The Mayweather – De La Hoya fight card has broken box office records and could go down in history as the most anticipated boxing event of this era. After the massively hyped show, has Floyd Mayweather, Jr.’s victory won him more fans? On a larger scale, has that particular event injected new life and improved fan base to what many consider as a dying sport?
HAS FLOYD ANSWERED HIS CRITICS AS WELL?
With Mayweather’s win over De La Hoya, has the world’s top fighter, in one way or another, already answered his critics regarding his perceived deficiency in quality of his choice of opposition? Noting that the De La Hoya who fought Mayweather was considerably bigger and most probably better than Cotto, Hatton, or Margarito? Was Floyd right in saying that he has nothing left to prove in this sport of boxing? Make yourselves heard, boxing fans!
posted by Reylan | 1:54 PM
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