“THROUGH OSCAR COLORED GLASSES”

Stephen S. Johnson

INSIDE BOXING (December 18, 2003) -“The Golden Boy” will be a 2004 Olympic boxing analyst for Telemundo, the Spanish language station.

Oscar de la Hoya is articulate and brings a fresh new face to the boxing analyst group that will provide Telemundo viewers with an excellent boxers perspective.

What WON’T need to be done during the 2004 Olympic Games is for de la Hoya to push his own agenda of what he terms, “bad decisions” in the sport.

During the press conference held October 29, 2003 in New York announcing Telemundo (owned by NBC) had secured the services of de la Hoya, the “Golden Boy” wasted no time in setting the record straight.

Oscar DEFINITELY wants a re-match with “Sugar” Shane Moseley even though he said retirement was a definite should he lose.

“The public knows who won that fight and that’s all that matters”, said de la Hoya. “It was a bad decision”.

But the underlying message sent by the “Golden Boy” remains his displeasure with decisions.

Decisions that he disagrees with!

In keeping with his new character, de la Hoya went on to say to say that any decision that is termed “bad” should and can be corrected.

Again, the “Golden Boy” feels he is the all and powerful “DETERMINATOR” when it comes to scoring professional boxing matches.

Oscar went on to say that during the 2004 Olympics, to be held in Athens, Greece, he will be honest in his analysis of bouts he covers.

“Honesty”, when viewed through “Oscar colored glasses” has by far been the most intriguing event leading up to these Olympic Games.

It is quite apparent that Oscar de la Hoya is determined to avenge his losses in the ring in a fashion that has never been attempted.

Convincing the public (?) that “bad” decisions can and will be corrected is a sick joke!

“The public knows who really won the fight” is what Oscar said when losing to Shane Moseley.

That same “public” Oscar seems to refer to, knows who really won the fight de la Hoya had against Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whittaker.

When the ”public” suggested Whittaker deserved a re-match to settle the issue once and for all, de la Hoya stated, “I beat him once, why should I fight him again?”

HONESTY…a huge word when one is an analyst…or fighter…or fan.

There will come a time when his “Oscar colored glasses” become fogged over with his now huge ego.

As painful as it may be for some, for others it will be like opening the door disclosing what the “Golden Boy” has been about all along.

Self-promotion is not necessarily a bad thing, unless that self-promotion threatens to undermine a whole sport.

This is, quite possibly, the legacy that the talented, charismatic and articulate Oscar de la Hoya may possibly leave behind.

Is this the way the “Golden Boy” really wants to be remembered?