APPLAUD OSCAR & THEN TELL HIM TO GO! Las Vegas, NV- In the past 15 years, no fighter has done more for boxing (and himself) than Oscar De La Hoya. An Olympic champion in 1992, Oscar instantly became a media darling and with that came throngs of fans and adulation. It can be said, that in the post Mike Tyson-era, that De La Hoya carried the sport on his shoulders. And while all of this may be true, those days are over and Oscar now needs to ride off into the sunset. ONE PROBLEM WITH OSCAR’S LEAVING… If we put Oscar out to pasture, then who becomes the sport’s flag bearer? Floyd Mayweather? Not hardly. Than who, what fighter can step into the role of leader and take this game back to the mainstream? The sad reality is nobody can. And while some of you may think I am killing off my business while stating such, I do so because I know you expect the truth, whole truth, and nothing but the truth. FLOYD REFUSES/CAN’T FILL OSCAR’S SHOES And while Mayweather is a master boxer, his refusal to “gamble” has him at the top of many a list of people that just don’t want to see him fight. The positive and long lasting effects of fighting Oscar De La Hoya, for Floyd Mayweather, there are none. With an opportunity to reach a good amount of non-boxing fans, young Mayweather squandered an opportunity to help the sport out, build himself into an icon, all the while pocketing at least $10 million. ANY NOMINEES TO REPLACE OSCAR? The fact that Manny Pacquiao is becoming a better English speaker will undoubtedly help him get across to the American masses. Couple that with his all-out style and offense, and you have a fighter that could be marketed to the masses. But there’s a problem. And that is because Pacquiao fights only on Pay Per View. It’s a concept that will put money in his pocket, but at the same time keep him a “fringe” player on the American sports scene. SO, WHOM DO WE HAND THE TORCH TO? I’ve made the Pacman suggestion, mainly because I can’t see another pugilist exciting enough to cultivate a new fan base. Looking at the heavyweights, neither Klitschko brother can really draw in the US. The cruiserweights (200) are a division no one cares about, with the exception of Jean Mormeck and O’Neill Bell. Bernard Hopkins, now 40-something years old, thus at light heavy (175) there is nothing enticing. At super middleweight (168), we have Europeans in Joe Calzaghe #1-A, with Mikkel Kessler now #1-B. Unless Kessler can get an American press agent that gets him some real play, he’ll remain a product of boxing websites. COULD TAYLOR FINALLY STEP UP? And while Jermain Taylor rules the middleweight (16) roost, he has yet to show that he is the man that can make people forget about Oscar. The jr. middleweight (154) weight class has nobody of note, seeing Mayweather is a real welterweight (147) and Oscar is old and unable to pull the rigger anymore. Let’s be honest, had Oscar not been “gifted” with a decision against Felix Sturm, he wouldn’t have gotten licked like a stamp by Bernard Hopkins. ENTER MR. & MRS. SHANE MOSLEY The only super fight not involving Manny Pacquiao or Juan Diaz, together or individually, will most likely involve Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather. People knock Mrs. Jin Mosley, myself being guilty of such. But the fact remains she’s helped keep Shane intact. And based on what I saw Saturday night, only Mosley is fast enough and packs enough wallop to make Floyd wince. SO WHOM DO WE PASS THE TORCH FOLKS? We don’t! With no viable candidate in position to take Oscar’s slot, boxing is now a rudderless ship. All the money, bling, tears, and sharp words flowing from the mouth of Floyd Mayweather, even when you combine them with his superlative talent in the ring, it isn’t enough to bring boxing back, 24-7!.
