TalkingBoxing Articles
Scrap De la Hoya-Pacquiao, I Have a Better Idea
WED December 12, ANDRES ANTONIO CARRIEDO -
A rumor has been floating around that Oscar De la Hoya and Manny Pacquiao may end up fighting each other in De la Hoya’s career finale next September. While supporters of this proposed fight correctly point out that the fight would generate an incredible amount of money and excitement, ultimately it is a gimmicky matchup. Even if it were to come off, it would be hard for non-partisan fight fans to take it seriously. I have a better idea…Oscar De la Hoya versus unbeaten, 21-year old Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Chavez Jr., unlike his father, has the physical attributes to match up with De la Hoya. He is roughly the same height and has similar reach to De la Hoya. He’s still pretty green, but with proposed matchups against Carlos Baldomir and Alfonso Gomez forthcoming, he is likely to be well prepared for this step up into De la Hoya’s class by September 2008.
Of course, the counter argument can be made that De la Hoya is past his prime. Some may even argue that the matchup would be more about star power than true title implications. While it is true that De la Hoya is past his prime and no title would be on the line, both would also be true heading into a De la Hoya-Pacquiao fight. At least Chavez Jr. fights in the same weight range, 147/154, that De la Hoya does. The difference is that a win over De la Hoya, past his prime or not, immediately makes Chavez Jr. a player in the 147/154 title mix…not to mention every bit the star in Mexico that Pacquiao is in the Phillipines.
The biggest question might be whether De la Hoya feels ready to become Chavez Jr.’s trial horse. De la Hoya is still competitive with most of the top fighters in and around his weight class and he may not be ready to throw in the towel. Sure he says that he only plans to fight twice more, but can we be expected to completely believe that? De la Hoya promised that if he lost his September 2003 rematch with Shane Mosley he’d retire. De la Hoya lost and he’s still fighting. Additionally, lucrative matchups with Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton and even a rematch with Floyd Mayweather linger as possibilities.
So, Chavez Jr. may not be De la Hoya’s favorite option, but I believe the fight is the most logical choice in terms of preparing the sport for its post-De la Hoya future. In September 2008, Chavez Jr. will be 22 years old. Mayweather will be 31…Hatton 30. The Pacquiao fight will still be more of a money grabbing gimmick than a scintillating fight matchup. If De la Hoya is serious about not fighting Puerto Ricans, then why not fight another Mexican who boxing fans can get excited about? If Chavez Jr. wins, then he’d have no qualms about facing off with the budding Puerto Rican star Miguel Cotto, currently 27 years of age.
A De la Hoya – Chavez Jr. fight makes sense. Even if Chavez Jr. isn’t quite ready and loses he’s not likely to be embarrassed. He can fight 2 or 3 interim fights, like his father used to, and get back into a big fight. He’s on the path to stardom anyway, but a fight with De la Hoya expedites the process.
Hopefully, De la Hoya will come to think this way as well. It’s a win-win situation. Even if he loses, the loss won’t tarnish his legacy just as Chavez Sr.’s two losses to De la Hoya did nothing to tarnish his legacy. If you account for the good it will do for the sport of boxing post-De la Hoya and the likelihood that it will be an action packed exciting fight it’s almost a no brainer.
Powell KO’s Cauthen to Secure Title Shot
In his first fight under the Seminole Warriors Boxing promotional banner, Sechew Powell won a thrilling four round brawl against ’96 Olympic Bronze Medalist Terrance Cauthen. Cauthen, perhaps incited by Powell’s pre-fight accusations that Cauthen would run and hold, came forward early and often. However, it was Powell who scored the fight’s two knockdowns. The end came when Powell cracked Cauthen with a right hook that put the former Olympian down.
The win secures the IBF mandatory challenger position for Cory Spinks’ 154 lb. title. Spinks is set to defend his title against mandatory challenger and former titlist Verno Phillips. His defense against Powell may not be due for at least nine months. However, fellow southpaw Powell may end up being the most television friendly matchup the crafty and talented Spinks can land in 2008. Don’t be surprised if Powell lands the title shot sooner rather than later
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