05.05.06 – By Jeff Bastasini: This Saturday we’re poised to see Oscar De La Hoya (37-4, 29 KO’s) attempt to win one more title when he goes up against Ricardo Mayorga (28-5, 23 KO’s) for his WBC super middleweight title in Las Vegas. Oscar, a former Olympic champion, has been out of the ring for close to 2 years, but still it probably won’t matter against a fighter as limited as Mayorga, who doesn’t come close to being in the same class of fighter as De La Hoya.
Both fighters are about the same age, 33, but Mayorga has much less to show for it than De La Hoya, who has won belts in featherweight, lightweight, welterweight, super middleweight and middleweight divisions.
Great fighters like Oscar don’t go out on a losing note, which explains why he decided to come back to the ring after his recent absence. In other words, he wants to finish on a winning note by beating Mayorga and then possibly Floyd Mayweather Jr. In my opinion, I think Oscar still has more than enough left to get by Mayorga, but probably not against Mayweather, that would be asking a little too much, even of someone as great as Oscar.
I couldn’t help but notice that many people doubt Oscar, based on a lot of the banter across the internet, but I don’t think these people have taken a good look at Oscar recently. Yet, when they’re confronted with the reality of the still boyish and now razor thin De La Hoya, they’ll probably quickly change their mind about him. If they don’t then, they will as soon as they see Oscar fire off one of his beautiful left hook, right hand combinations and see Mayorga’s head snap back in response to the blows landing flush on his face.
Believe me, this fight means more to Oscar than mere money, because he doesn’t need that due to his immense wealth that he has craftily created over the years. No, Oscar is a warrior and like a warrior, he wants to do battle and conquer his foes, until the time comes where he can no longer fight the battles. Unfortunately, for Mayorga, he’s going to find out that Oscar still has more than enough to handle him. This fight is well worth the $49.95 PPV cost, and I, for one, am purchasing this fight and can’t wait for it to start.
Prediction: De La Hoya by 5th round KO.