Boxing

 

Reflections on Bad Blood

Ben Pierce

16.09 - De la Hoya's string of pearls...

Oscar De la Hoya removed all doubt about his heart and his hunger for the game of boxing Saturday night, as he defeats Fernando Vargas, by tko in the eleventh round. If you questioned his commitment to the game, and I did, you have to admit you were wrong. He fought an inspired fight, his best performance in years.

It was a great fight and a classic boxing match. I had the fight scored dead even after ten rounds. Yes, I gave Vargas the tenth round even though he was wobbled at the end. Rounds are scored by the complete action in the round, not a flurry or a good punch at the end of the round. De la Hoya has tried to steal rounds at the end of each round, throughout his career. He is known to flurry in the final seconds of each round. I was surprised Vargas was not prepared for this as the final seconds ticked away in the tenth round.

Fernando Vargas also fought a good fight. He tried to box a master of the game. In my opinion he was trying to duplicate his performance of a few years ago when he faced Ike Quartey, and out boxed Quartey to win by decision. A good game plan early in the fight, but not as the rounds went by. I would have liked to have seen him rush De La Hoya, takes some risks and go for the knock out in the later rounds. I think his success in the early rounds and the fight being virtually even, stopped him from doing this.

But De la Hoya won the fight and won it in an impressive fashion. The "Golden Boy" added yet another jewel to his string of pearls. This one has to shine brighter than most.

De la Hoya v Mosley...

Shane Mosley was a ringside hoping to secure a rematch with De la Hoya, after suffering two devastating losses at the hands of Vernon Forrest. Mosley may get his opportunity, as he is the next logical opponent for De la Hoya. I think Oscar sees him as a weakened foe, much as he saw Vargas. I think the rematch that Mosley has wanted for years will soon be a reality.

After the performance he displayed in the ring Saturday night, I think De la Hoya will handle Mosley with ease. I think the two losses to Forrest have put serious kinks in the confidence of Mosley and the higher weight can only favor De la Hoya.

Winky Wright: Bird in the hand...

Winky Wright finds himself with some serious questions that could affect the rest of his career. De la Hoya mentioned the possibility of a fight with Wright, but only after he has proven himself against other top contenders at Junior Middleweight.

Although it is unclear which contenders Team De la Hoya was referring to in the post fight press conference, one can only assume he was referring to Fernando Vargas or Daniel Santos.

Should Wright take these fights or wait on a possible bout with De la Hoya? Winky knows the dangers of waiting on De la Hoya. He has seen Vargas wait years for a fight, he has seen Mosley wait years for a rematch and he saw Trinidad retire rather than play the waiting game with De la Hoya.

So he can sit and wait on a possible fight and huge pay day with De la Hoya or he can take the fight with Vargas or Santos. With Wright it has always been about money and the Santos fight does not offer him that, unless it provides him an avenue to De la Hoya.
If he chooses to avenge his loss to Vargas, he stands to make two or three times the pay check of any other fight out there for him, but still only about half of what a fight with De la Hoya would offer.

I feel certain Fernando Vargas would be happy to face Wright again. it would provide him an opportunity at another world title and a route to a possible rematch with De la Hoya.

But the ball is in Winky's court and he has some decisions to make. I would bet those decisions are based on the best monetary reward for Wright. But if that will be a bird in the hand with Vargas, or the waiting game on De la Hoya, remains to be seen.

Until next time, keep your hands up and keep reaching for the stars!


Questions/Comments: benp1000@msn.com

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