past defeats. In a press
conference held earlier today, DeLaHoya said had he been under the leadership of
now trainer Floyd Mayweather, Sr. he would be undefeated with most victories by
knockout.DE LAHOYA: NO MORE EXCUSES
(INSIDE BOXING) The “Golden Boy” Oscar
DeLaHoya claims trainers are responsible for his past defeats. In a press
conference held earlier today, DeLaHoya said had he been under the leadership of
now trainer Floyd Mayweather, Sr. he would be undefeated with most victories by
knockout.
Oscar
DeLaHoya will be attempting to re-establish himself as one of the best fighters
in the world when he takes on Arturo Gatti, Saturday, March 24th at
the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Questions
concerning new strategies, style and training habits all took a back seat to the
DeLaHoya assertion that Floyd Mayweather, Sr. has him motivated by using his
natural talents combined with a rigid conditioning and workout schedule.
DeLaHoya claims that for the first time in his boxing career, Floyd Mayweather,
Sr. is actually TEACHING him the art of boxing.
When
pressed about the strong accusation, DeLaHoya stated that Emanuel Steward
“taught me nothing” and his victories under Steward were all because of his
own natural talent. Trainer Gil Clancey cost him the victory over Felix Trinidad
by instructing him to “stay on his toes and keep away” for the last 5 rounds
of that battle. Trainer Roberto Alcazar took him “as far as he could” with
the limited knowledge he had.
Floyd
Mayweather, Sr. took his own shots at past managers. “Being with me, Oscar is
learning you have to have a strong defense to go along with a strong offense. He
has never been taught that before”. Mayweather feels DeLaHoya has a lot more
to learn. We all know “Rome was not built in one day and neither can Oscar be
expected to learn everything overnight”.
DeLaHoya
says that for the first time he feels that he is truly a part of a team. In the
past he felt everyone had their own agenda. The new “Team DeLaHoya” is now
alive and ready to go. Oscar himself says he is currently in the best shape of
his life. “I’ve been chopping wood, running and working out like never
before”.
The
first victim will be the ever valiant, but easily hit and bloodied, Arturo Gatti.
Next will be the WBC junior middleweight champion, Javier Castillejo. Should he
be victorious DeLaHoya will have the title of WBC junior middleweight champion.
DeLaHoya
would next like to see Felix Trinidad, “Sugar” Shane Mosley and then maybe
Fernando Vargas. But none of these three HAS to wait on a call from DeLaHoya.
They are still the most marketable fighters he must contend with.
Granted
the biggest financial gain for any of the three would be to do battle with
DeLaHoya. But they are in a position of demanding their own reasonable piece of
the pie. DeLaHoya maintains he is still “the man” in the 147-154 pound class
and all must deal with him.
Should
he ever fight Felix Trinidad again, DeLaHoya guaranteed a victory by knockout. A
rematch with Shane Mosley would be next so that DeLaHoya could “stop all the
talk that he (Mosley) is the best fighter in the world”. The Fernando Vargas
bout would happen “if I decide to give him the opportunity”.
The
“Team DeLaHoya” camp seems to be on a mission. He definitely wants to defeat
the two fighters who have blemished his record. He still feels he is the major draw in the sport and should
be compensated as such.
DeLaHoya
scheduling fights with Trinidad, Mosley and Vargas is an exciting prospect to
most every boxing fan. But he seems to have forgotten that, other than Vargas,
he is now the hunter and not the hunted.
Should
there be a display of awesome power, fantastic hand and foot speed or a quick
devastating knockout in the Arturo Gatti bout, DeLaHoya will immediately project
himself back into the limelight. Anything less will give the critics ample
fodder for him to resume his singing career.
“Team
DeLaHoya” is talking the talk. Very soon they must be ready to walk the walk.
And never again can anyone be given the blame for failure but “The Golden
Boy” himself.
He
has run out of excuses.
3/13/01