I know, I know – Floyd Mayweather is too quick. He’s too natural. He’s too PRIME for Oscar De La Hoya to do anything effective against. Mayweather hasn’t had much of a challenge at this stage of his career aside from one tough fight with Jose Luis Castillo and a handful of interesting rounds with Zab Judah. Diego Corrales couldn’t make Floyd look ordinary. Arturo Gatti looked more like a no-hoper against the Pretty Boy than he did against Oscar. Decent world class guys like Jesus Chavez and Sharmba Mitchell weren’t really close either.
So why, pray tell, would Oscar DeLaHoya have even a whiff of a chance against this guy? What would make a boxing fan think that Oscar – who got out-quicked and out-worked by Shane Mosley, who got put down for 10 from a poke in the ribs by Bernard Hopkins, who got just plain scared against Felix Trinidad, would have any possibility to come out on top against the consensus number one fighter in the world?
Glad You Asked. Here are a few unique things that Oscar does that will aid him in the fight.
1. Oscar uses his right hand to set up his left. Very significant stuff. Oscar sets up his left hook by getting his opponents to do something that Mayweather does naturally, which is to hide behind his left shoulder to avoid the oncoming right – but it’s just a decoy to mask the killer left hook that is already on the way. Jose Luis Castillo was effective with the left against Mayweather, and never bothered to disguise it the way that Oscar does. Oscar isn’t a monster puncher, but his left hook is the ticket and he’s going to trap and time Floyd over and over again until he gets it right.
2. Oscar isn’t afraid to play the bully. Against smaller guys Oscar has proven a willingness to be the stalker, even in the case of a dangerous puncher like Ricardo Mayorga. De La Hoya felt he was the bigger, stronger guy and took it to Mayorga physically. Oscar stepped back only enough to avoid punches and immediately walked forward again into punching range while Mayorga gave ground. Floyd will get pressured and walked backed for the entirety and it remains to be seen what he’ll do when a bigger, better, quicker, more defensive and harder hitting version of Castillo is constantly stepping towards him.
3. De La Hoya lets his hands go in exchanges. Part of what Mayweather counts on is his opponents eventually keeping their hands in because his punches are so quick. Oscar has one of the very best chins in boxing and has always been available for exchanges. It didn’t work to his advantage against Shane Mosley, but Mosley is an entirely different kind of puncher than Mayweather. Floyd’s punches are quick, but in exchanges he’ll always have one hand playing defense whereas Shane is pumping both hands like pistons. Look for Oscar to be throwing up to eight punch combinations when Floyd enters into close combat and creating space and opportunities with sheer activity.
Just some food for thought. De La Hoya won’t be nearly as moved by the enormity of the event as Mayweather. Floyd hasn’t fought anyone close to this level, and has rarely even fought on a big stage. Pay Per View mini-events like Judah, Gatti, and Baldomir aren’t going to feel the same as when he’s in the dressing room getting ready for what will be far and away the biggest fight of his career. For Oscar it’s just another day at the office…stay tuned for full De La Hoya vs. Mayweather breakdowns and coverage at Boxing Confidential.
