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In the post-fight interview Oscar de la Hoya said the following: "I didn't think it was going to be so easy." Shocking statements to be sure. Especially considering that Hopkins landed a punch that caused Oscar to roll on the canvas for a full minute (1:04 to be exact). I wasn't aware that a shot to the liver could rattle the brain in such a manner.
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There is a certain beauty and a certain mystery involved in the left hook to the body.
The beauty lies in the technical and mechanical aspects involved in throwing and landing the punch effectively. Not just anybody can land a punch like that. Most experts will tell you that if thrown and landed correctly it can be the most devastating punch in a fighter's arsenal.
The mystery of the "left hook to the body" was demonstrated by the crowd reaction Saturday night. A hush fell over the crowd as Oscar de la Hoya's delayed reaction manifested itself. Oscar surely had the will to get up but simply had no air with which to oxygenate his brain. I'm sure there were fans that left the MGM Grand arena scratching their heads, wondering what happened. To be sure, those weren't the boxing fans.
The truth is that Bernard Hopkins has been underestimated and under-respected his entire career. Saturday night was no different, in fact in some ways it was a culmination of a hall of fame career in ways that were representative of that career.
Hopkins was disrespected by Oscar who thought he could stand in there and "out tough" him. He was disrespected by the HBO announcers who seemed to give Oscar extra points simply for not getting knocked out sooner. And most of all he was disrespected by the fans in the house failed to give him the credit he deserved for a knock out win over a man who had never been knocked out.
Hopkins knocked out Oscar in an "old school" fashion, it was a throwback to the old days, with a left hook to the body. And the "old school" methods might not look as flashy but in some ways, as demonstrated Saturday, can be equally or more devastating than new methods.
Oscar de la Hoya, like Felix Trinidad before him, moved up in weight and found out what the word champion means. Many have challenged for the title and they've all suffered the fate endured by Oscar and Felix.
Now there is talk of Hopkins legacy. Or the "what next" talk. As far as this writer is concerned I can't think of a better way for Hopkins to hang up the gloves than following a body shot knock out of the sport's Golden Boy.
