TalkingBoxing Articles
Because He Has To - DLH Beats Mayorga
WED May 10, BUSTER PARIS - Mayorga hits the canvas!
The world completely stunned – our collective jaws drop open and our eyes widen in utter disbelief. It was totally unexpected – at least at this juncture of only a minute having gone by in the first round – but there it was – Ricardo Mayorga dropped violently hard by a picture perfect left hook.
Swaggering away wholly composed and by far cooler than John Wayne ever dreamed of – “The Golden Boy” headed toward a neutral corner.
Two words hauntingly echo in my head - sung in that creepy Carol Anne voice from Poltergeist:
“He’s baaaaaack…”
Saturday – May 6th 2006 at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV “The Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya challenged Ricardo “El Matador” Mayorga for the WBC Light Middleweight crown.
It was an exciting fight with surprising and somewhat anxiety provoking occurrences - like Ricardo getting dropped in the first minute of the first round and Oscar not jabbing as he should and at times having a lagged punch output.
Certain moments it looked to be anyone’s fight to win – even though De La Hoya was winning all the rounds according to HBO’s incredible unofficial scorer Harold Ledderman – Mayorga was still throwing punches and you can’t ever fully count out a puncher like Mayorga – all it takes is that one punch – just ask Jose Luis Castillo sometime - or Michael Moorer.
Here are the highlights:
Round 1: The feeling out process must have been done at all those fun filled press conferences because the round opened with both men throwing jabs meant to inflict major trauma – these weren’t the feeling out kind. Ricardo was throwing his usual big hard and wide shots and Oscar would nicely block or avoid them - and was at all times poised and professional.
At about 2:02 De La Hoya crashed in with a right hand and then launched a blazing left hook that sent Mayorga straight to the canvas. No one expected that so soon – especially Mayorga and Oscar strutted John Wayne like over to the neutral corner.
The next distressing attack on Ricardo happened at about 1:07 – De La Hoya was slamming away and wobbled Mayorga causing him to hold on, then they both began to slug it out. Ricardo was throwing wide and really throwing some mammoth leather.
It was a great round and I had it 10/8 for De La Hoya.
Round 2: Another De La Hoya left hook rocked Mayorga to kick things off. Both were launching missile like jabs at the same time – which is always such a cool thing as a fan to see – only Oscar’s were hitting the target first and doing more damage. Ricardo then continued to set free huge chopping rights and big looping blows - and at about :42 Oscar let’s fly a bushel of punches that Mayorga answered back some, but nothing significant until he landed a great heavy body shot to end the round – regardless of that hit - it would be another round for the Golden Boy.
It’s clear now that De La Hoya is the much more skilled boxer and Mayorga is a guty brawler – not so much a street brawler anymore, but nonetheless he’s all about fighting – hit and get hit.
Round 3: Ricardo throwing and Oscar patiently answering back, but not really engaged early in the round. De La Hoya would begin to counter near the middle of the third and land some solid shots as well as using the jab. The last 20 ticks was all Mayorga – he landed some big blows. I gave this round to Ricardo.
Round 4: I also gave this round to Ricardo – I thought he did more damage. Started off with both fighters throwing and trading, then at like 2:27 Oscar landed another large hook and Mayorga answered with big powerful gloves - and at about 1:40 Ricardo landed a nice hook of his own. Both would tussle and trade body shots and Mayorga landed a nice 3 shot combination, and then Oscar landed 4 sharper and crisper shots to end the round.
Round 5: Ricardo threw and landed some nice blows to introduce the round, then they clunk heads – no cuts – everyone’s fine. Mayorga continues to throw with bad intentions and Oscar retorted back throwing stunning combinations and started to land some great leather. The round is starting to feel familiar – there’s a pattern and outline developing. De La Hoya gets the 10 points.
Round 6: Mayorga began the round with a nice 1-2 and just as things are again falling into the model of the 5th round Oscar is all over Ricardo forcing him to hit his knees to the matt. With a somewhat telling and discouraged look on his face Ricardo got up and begrudgingly accepted the will of De La Hoya who swarmed in and was pounding away. Oscar began his assault by banging away on Mayorga’s body and brutally his blue Cleto Reyes’ invasion worked it’s way up to a final crescendo where his fists flew furiously on Ricardo’s head.
1:25 – Referee Jay Nady steps in and stops the fight – 6th round TKO victory for the Golden Boy.
Oscar De La Hoya once again has the WBC Light Middleweight Belt and Title - and more importantly the respect, reverence and appreciation from his fans – and from boxing folks in general.
The bout really is a feather in the cap for both fighters as they both preformed exceptionally well. Yes – even though he lost and was out boxed by a superior boxer – Ricardo Mayorga has nothing to be ashamed of - he preformed as a pro as he dished it out and took it like a man. He has no excuses and makes none. He’s a warrior who never gave up and went down fighting.
As far as the Golden Boy – this was an exceptional fight for him because there was so much doubt regarding his focus, his intensity and that long 20 months of inactivity. Can he win this fight? – especially against a fiercely passionate unpredictable wild man like “El Matador” -- and does he even hunger for this game anymore?
I was a classmate in the school of thought that Oscar was done as a fighter – not washed up or punched out, but just done – the hunger and the fire gone, the zeal shifted – and he’s Mr. De La Hoya now – the Promoter – what’s he need this for?
I tend to forget sometimes that boxers are a unique and amazing group of people. They are fighters, warriors and gladiators – that’s not something you choose – it chooses you – and there’s no leaving it behind.
Once a fighter – always a fighter.
For Oscar - fighting is in his soul and in his very being – it is everything inside of him…
There’s a question that we as writers and fans often think we know the answer to – we don’t – I think I finally “get it” – at least I saw its shadow:
Why do fighters fight past their best years? – why would a fighter continue to fight when he has enough money and stuff for 10 life times? – why would a fighter fight right up until he is 99 years old?
Because he has to.
Buster Paris can be reached at: bparis@talkingboxing.com - and always enjoys receiving your thoughts, comments and questions
Forum
