la Hoya
finally stopped the smaller, at the end of his career but valiant Arturo Gatti,
in the 5th round of a scheduled 12 round welterweight bout Saturday
night in Las, Vegas.OSCAR IS ANNOYING
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LAS
VEGAS, NV (INSIDE BOXING) . The new, improved, properly trained Oscar de la Hoya
finally stopped the smaller, at the end of his career but valiant Arturo Gatti,
in the 5th round of a scheduled 12 round welterweight bout Saturday
night in Las, Vegas.
This
was the inaugural bout for the once “Golden Boy” but now referred to as the
“comeback kid” in his attempt to recapture his once “King of the Hill”
status. Ticket sales were eerily slow until de la Hoya strangely predicted that
by fight time the place would be sold out. It appears his prediction came true
as some 12,000 fans were in attendance. Oddly enough, just one day before the
fight some 2,000 tickets were still available.
The
weight of 147 pounds sits easily on the frame of the 5’11” de la Hoya. He
was a full 3 inches taller than Gatti with a just as decisive 3 inch reach
advantage. The attempt by the once entertaining Gatti to move up in weight to
the welterweight division is, well…over.
The
easily hit and even easier bloodied Gatti lived up to his reputation by coming
straight at de la Hoya. He was rewarded for this effort by being hit with
numerous solid left jabs that immediately opened a severe cut under his right
eye.
Gattia
went down in the first round from a hard combination thrown by de la Hoya. He
was hurt and it was just a matter of time before this fight was over.
But he new Oscar de la Hoya could not land the punch or punches necessary
to stop the cut and bloodied Gatti until the 5th round.
For
all the talk de la Hoya spouts about his newfound abilities, he showed none of
that
Saturday night. Against a much smaller, handpicked, over the hill and
easily hit opponent such as Arturo Gatti, de la Hoya was able to be victorious.
The
camp of Arturo Gatti had a strange new approach to this fight. Previous bouts
involving Gatti were going to eventually be a blood bath with the majority of
the blood being that of Gatti. His entertainment value came about as a result of
him making tremendous comebacks when he had apparently been beaten. Saturday
night would offer no such a spectacle.
The
largest pay day Gatti had seen in his professional career ($1.5 million) made
for a whole new strategy. There would be no coming back from the depths of
defeat tonight. There would be no fighting until he dropped. Arturo Gatti
followed what has become the trend in boxing today. He got his well-earned big
payday and was content to retire with that.
Do
I blame him? This man has provided boxing fans entertainment in the ring in
every fight he has ever been in. Why shouldn’t he “go for it” when he is
obviously on the down side of his boxing career? I don’t blame him and he did
just what he should’ve done when deciding to give as much as he had then
calling it quits.
The
response by de la Hoya following the fight was predictable. He was never hurt.
He was only hit with grazing punches. He is only going to get better now that he
has the first “real” trainer in his camp. Every time the new “Team de la
Hoya” is unveiled we hear the same thing.
Of
course, he will beat Javier Castillejo for his portion of the junior
middleweight crown making him a champion at several different weight classes. He
will then prepare to take on either Felix Trinidad or Shane Mosely, but that is
if, according to de la Hoya, “everything is right”.
What
does that mean? Probably the same thing it means for Fernando Vargas who de la
Hoya says he will maybe “give the opportunity” if Vargas is willing to kiss
some de la Hoya ass.
Oscar
de la Hoya is in what is commonly referred to as “DENIAL”. He refuses to
believe that boxing does indeed do well without him. He refuses to take
responsibility when suffering a loss. He refuses to acknowledge any deficiency
in either his life or his profession. He is becoming quite annoying.
Saturday
night showed a rusty and unable to finish Oscar de la Hoya. He showed nothing
against Arturo Gatti any other fighter facing him hasn’t.
Gatti
stands in front of his opponent daring him to exchange blows. Something de la
Hoya should never attempt with another fighter, ever.
Trainer
Floyd Mayweather could clearly be heard telling de la Hoya “don’t exchange
with him, get in and get out”. The new and improved version of de la Hoya
should have been able to walk right through a smaller, easily hit opponent such
as Gatti. But pay close attention to things Mayweather says when discussing de
la Hoya. The phrases “lots of work to do”, “we’re just touching the tip
of the iceberg” and “the best is yet to come” frequent his lips.
De
la Hoya says that by the age of 30, whether he has redeemed himself against both
Felix Trinidad and Shane Mosely or not, he is retiring from boxing. Presently 28
years of age he has once again put his foot in his mouth by suggesting that in
the next two years he will “if everything is right” defeat two of the best
boxers in the world both of whom have already defeated him.
One
would like to say Oscar de la Hoya is a man on a mission. That could possibly be
true except for the fact that he presently has done nothing other than talk. And
talk is cheap.
Try
getting him to discuss a bout with Fernando Vargas. He is the most attractive
opponent in the junior middleweight division. That conversation will be brief.
He is only interested in opponents he believes he has a chance to soundly defeat
or will generate huge revenues.
“It’s
not about the money”, he says. But what do you think he is referring to with
his “if everything is right” statement? He wants the financial security to
entertain his, mediocre at best, singing and acting career.
Notice
de la Hoya trying to attract the Latino population by pausing to speak Spanish
during his post fight interview? In his last ditch attempt to reclaim the title
of “Golden Boy” all the stops have been pulled. Expect to see de la Hoya at
various Hollywood bashes shaking hands, baby kissing and speaking Spanish for
the next two years. That is the time frame he has given himself in the boxing
ring and we will keep him to it.
But
don’t count on it. Two years from now Oscar de la Hoya will have a new “Team
d la Hoya”. He will have another well-known trainer who “actually teaches me
something” in the fold. And the circus act we have come to know as Oscar de la
Hoya will start all over again.
03/25/01