In an unprecedented promotional push, HBO is now airing a four-part documentary series entitled ?De La Hoya-Mayweather 24/7?. The concept of the mini-series is to discuss all of the details surrounding the much-anticipated match up between the ?Golden Boy? Oscar De La Hoya and ?Pretty Boy? Floyd Mayweather.
The event, which is billed as ?The World Awaits?, takes place on May 5 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. The miniseries is being offered to give fans a feel for what a day is like in the life of HBO?s most popular house fighters. It seems certain that this up close and personal look at the boxers will appeal to a segment of the public that doesn’t typically watch boxing, and probably a few folks who had HBO on their TV, and were too lazy to pick up the remote. They, too, will no doubt be pulled in by HBO’s unparalleled ability to humanize boxers and craft their backstories into compelling arcs.
The first installment of the series debuted on Sunday, April 15. The half-hour segment presented the viewers with a feel for who De La Hoya and Mayweather are as individuals. During the broadcast it was stated that De La Hoya?s mother, Cecilia who passed away from breast cancer seventeen years ago, was a critical component in his decision to box. Soon after she passed away De La Hoya wanted to call it quits. But it was her wish for De La Hoya to win the gold medal in the ?92 summer Olympic games that made the aspiring baseball player to continue pursuing his fistic dreams.
Much like De La Hoya, Mayweather?s family played a role in him becoming the pound-for-pound champion that he is today. For Mayweather it was his father Floyd, Sr. who proved to be his most influential mentor. Senior managed to mold his masterpiece up until Floyd, Jr. was sixteen. The two diverged when Senior was convicted of a drug charge that saw him do five years in the penitentiary.
By the time he got out, Junior was already 21-years-of-age and a world champion. With Junior feeling betrayed and angry toward his dad, the father/son relationship soured. During this time period Senior?s brother Roger Mayweather began working with Junior, and the two have been inseparable since.
