Oscar De La Hoya stood in front of the Statue of Liberty instead of on Wall Street the other day to say that his fight with Manny Pacquiao won?t be the last time he will go to the bank.
With Wall Street about as bankrupt as the heavyweight division these days, the setting was appropriate, even without any guarantees attached to a De La Hoya promise that could go away like a Lehman Brother if Pacquiao beats him decisively on Dec. 6.
Lady Liberty, at least, is still going to be around for a while. So, too, apparently will De La Hoya. As long as the Bank of Oscar is open for business, there is a portfolio of reasons for a roster of contenders to stay in the fight and further motivation for a comeback that is probably inevitable anyway.
De La Hoya?s announcement in New York at the kick-off of his national tour with Pacquiao is a sure sign that he isn?t convinced Floyd Mayweather Jr. isn?t really retired. He?s only on a sabbatical. It wouldn?t be a surprise ? none at all ? if Mayweather says again and again that ? yes, yes, yes ? he is retired and plans to stay that way. But nobody believes it, and De La Hoya?s plans for 2009 are a further expression of an expectation that Mayweathe, who beat him on a night for record revenues in May of 2007, will be back for a rich rematch.
Mayweather advisor Leonard Ellerbe was at ringside on Sept. 27at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., for Sugar Shane Mosley?s dramatic stoppage of Ricardo Mayorga in the final second of a 12-round fight on a De La Hoya-promoted card. It?s safe to say that Ellerbe wasn?t at the outdoor tennis arena, waiting for an open court. Maybe, he was there just as a fan. But as a Mayweather representative, his presence represented inescapable possibilities.
Antonio Margarito was also there. For the first time in his career, Margarito was mobbed by fans, who wanted his autograph or a chance to just stand next to a people?s champ who upset Miguel Cotto. He was the most popular fighter in that arena and the best welterweight in any. That probably meant Ellerbe avoided him, which is something Margarito knows a lot about. After his bruising victory over Cotto, it?s safe to say that Mayweather will continue to sidestep him, even if that means a step back into that sabbatical.
But Mosley isn?t among those who are afraid of Margarito. Mosley again said that he would be willing to fight him.
?I know Margarito was here,?? Mosley said. ?That was interesting.??
But it doesn?t look as if interesting means likely, at least not to Mosley. A rematch with Cotto appears to be at the top of Margarito?s agenda.
?I have to try and find fights now,?? Mosley said after closing the show with a face-crushing left hand that made Mayorga?s face look like an accordion. ?I don?t want to wait around for Cotto-Margarito.??
In part, Mosley?s comment was an acknowledgement that he is in the twilight of a brilliant career. He is a lot closer to Hall of Fame induction than he is another title. At 37, he is at an age when inevitable attrition becomes evident. Fact is, it was apparent against Mayorga. Mosley unloaded some late drama against Mayorga, who ? to be fair ? was better than anticipated.
But Mosley was supposed to be brilliant against Mayorga. That?s why Mayorga was there. Trouble is, Mayorga had a real chance at winning, especially midway through the fight. In the seventh round, Mosley suddenly began to battle fatigue as much as he did the unbalanced Mayorga, who was about 10 pounds heavier than he was and as dangerously unorthodox as ever with wild punches from every and any angle. Mosley began to breathe through his mouth. He looked old. After the bout, he was asked if would still be fighting when he is 40.
?I don?t know,?? he said. ?My son is getting a little older. I?m going to work him out, make sure he?s ready to carry on a family tradition.??
But Mosley might want to wait. De La Hoya?s plan means he might be able to a lot more for his son in a second rematch. If De La Hoya doesn?t go straight back to the bank against Ricky Hatton at London?s Wembley Stadium, Molsey offers him a chance at putting some balance into his record with victories over those who have beaten him. He might never get that chance against Felix Trinidad, who won a disputed decision over him in 1999.
But Mosley beat him twice with a split decision as a welterweight in 2000 and a decision in 2003 as a junior-middleweight. It looks as if it would be an easy fight to put together, Mosley is a partner in De La Hoya?s company, Golden Boy Promotions. After all, promoters are always fighting each other. With a De La Hoya-Mosley rematch, the public finally would get the chance to witness what it always wanted to see from Bob Arum and Don King: At last, a couple of promoters would actually throw punches at each other.
In addition to some good money, it also would be a chance for Mosley to help his business partner get ready for a Mayweather rematch in a venue more significant than the gym. Before his 2007 loss to Mayweather, Mosley sparred with De La Hoya. Mayweather ripped him for the role, sneeringly calling him ?nothing but a sparring partner.??
To Mosley?s credit, he has been that and more throughout career. He has one more chance at a lot more. De La Hoya owes him the opportunity.
