21.12.06 – By Michael Marley, BoxingConfidential.com: NEW YORK CITY — The drum beat keeps getting louder and louder. The message, although totally unsubstantiated so far, is that Floyd Mayweather Sr. is getting the axe as Oscar de la Hoya’s trainer and that the Golden Boy is deciding on a replacement. The bottom line for Oscar is that he does not need the mental distraction of the father and son pissing contest which is guranteed to erupt with media types like Ricardo “Flamethrower” Lois pouring gasoline on already burning embers.
You think ODLH wants to face the media day after day and be asked questions from the pages of “Psychology Today” about the dysfunctional relationship between Floyd Sr. and Floyd Jr. Hell no, it says here.
Let’s say Oscar is giving the doggerel-spouting Papa Mayweather the “86,” then what ?
Well, here with Marley’s Morning Line on Oscar’s next trainer and chief corner man and the odds of each getting the high-paying gig for Oscar’s May 5 date with Floyd Mayweather Jr.:
1–FREDDIE ROACH, EVEN MONEY. What a slick piece of One Upsmanship. I can hear Bob Arum whining now. Roach goes to the bank in a way that he never will with the Pacman, at least for just one fight, and Oscar makes further inroads with Team Pacman. If all of a sudden you hear that Oscar’s camp will be in General Santos City, you will get the picture. This move plus Roach pushing Barrera as Pacman’s next foe could help Oscar and GBP isolate Pacman until they truly have him locked up.
2–ROGER MAYWEATHER, 20-1. Uncle Roger is already locked up in Vegas. This move would make both PBF and Floyd Sr. crazy but I cannot see it happening. If The Black Mamba gets out of handcuffs, he just seems too “street” for button-downed Oscar. ODLH wouldn’t take a chance of a trainer suddenly being unavailable, either.
3–NACHO BERISTAIN, 15-1. He’s Mexican which can’t hurt. He is a very good trainer, especially for master boxers with fine technique. But he is Juan Manuel Marquez’s main man and Oscasr won’t be hiring anyone who is likely to be in a corner opposite Pacman.
4–DON HOUSE, 18-1. Joan Guzman’s gym shot caller knows PBF inside and outside and the slight Ray Leonard look-a-like knows how to walk and talk softly so as to not upstage the bossman. His friendship with the Mayweather clan and former association with Top Rank Gym probably knock him out of the box.
5–MANNY STEWARD, 100-1. Oscar has been there, done that. Oscar fires trainers but never rehires them. The Kronkster will be on the mike, not in the corner on May 5. Manny actually cried at Big Bear when Oscar told him he was an FMF (fired mother flyer) last time.
Besides, although Manny would love the moolah, why tick Dr. Klitschko off for any reason?
6–JESSE REID, 50-1. Underrated and not properly appreciated his whole training career.
Unfairly carries label of being only a puncher or slugger’s trainer which dates back to Bruce Curry days. Won’t get arrested or embarrass the Golden Boy but is very unlikely to get a first look never mind a second one.
7–THELL TORRANCE, 9-5. Back in spotlight as underachiever Audley Harrison shed Fraudley tag somewhat with demolition of Danny Williams. Protege of legendary Mr. Eddie Futch. Does not seek publicity for himself. If they broke bread together, I bet he and Oscar would hit it off. Maybe Joel de la Hoya, Oscar’s boxing knowledgeable father, throws TT’s name into Oscar’s hat?
8–AMILCAR BRUSA, 20-1. Octogenarian is in better physical condition than James Toney with or without Tae Bo titan Billy Blanks. To be enshrined at Canastota come next June.
Took Carlos Baldomir to the mountain top against Judah and Gatti. Won’t get picked because he cannot go and up down ring steps to corner as needed.
9–TEDDY ATLAS, 70-1. No longer perceived as guy who wants to spend four hours in boxing gym every day, now looked at as media personality. Difficult for Atlas to spur interviews and not seek limelight while receiving ESPN paycheck. Fact that he’s never had a Latin star also hurts.
10–JEFF MAYWEATHER, 250-1. Okay, I was running out of Mayweathers but Jazzy Jeff’s training resume is thinner than Paris Hilton on a 30-day fast. Also tied up trying to convince Sultan Ibragimov that Shannon Briggs will not decapitate him March 10. May have Sultan testing parachutes or hang gliders which would have been good training technique for White Lamb Liakhovich.
THE FIELD, 1000-1. Ronnie Shields. Chuck McGregor. Kenny Weldon. Lou Duva. Pat Burns. Dan Birmingham. Tommy Gallagher. Lindsey Lohan. Nicole Richie. Condaleeza Rice. Jim Ed Rice. Michael Richards. Dave Chappelle. Carlos Mencia. George Lopez. Paul Rodriguez.. Paul Mooney. Mickey Rooney and Kevin Rooney.
At the end of the day, it will be Roach. Now stop bugging me.
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Ricardo Lois Goes With Cuban Longshot As Oscar Winner
By RICARDO LOIS, BoxingConfidential.com
LOS ANGELES — 1 – Alejandro “Pupy” De La Torre – First of all he is Cuban. Second of all, he is Cuban. Third of all, he always gives me interviews, so I could have great access to the Golden Boy.
2 – Freddie Roach – Why not? If Manny Pacquiao and Oscar De La Hoya ran their camps together, maybe they could break bread on a promotional deal. Pacquiao might be forced to Big Bear, Oscar’s training camp of choice. I would like to see if the crazy mob of Filipino gym rats who visit Pacquiao at the Wild Card Gym would travel three hours to see their hero.
3 – Ignacio Beristain – The best trainer in the world, in my humble opinion. He produces world champion, after world champion. I am sure Shelly Finkel would like to have the ability to produce champions like the veteran trainer Beristain. I digress. With the old grump Beristain in the media haven of a De La Hoya training camp, could you imagine the wild things Nacho would say. He could give Floyd Sr. a run for his money in off the wall comments.
4 – Angelo Dundee – I am sure the boxing public would like to hear some stories about Muhammad Ali or Sugar Ray Leonard…again.
5 – Ronnie Shields – Hey, he already trains one over the hill fighter in Holyfield, why not guide De La Hoya into that special phase of a fighter’s career.
6 – Joe Goossen – The trainer needs to get back in the limelight and I am sure he could design De La Hoya some styling ring attire for the fight.
7. – Felix Trinidad – Apollo Creed trained Rocky, why not have Tito train Oscar? Also, after the fight, Trinidad can blindside De La Hoya with a loaded glove setting up a WWE like rematch between the Puerto Rican and Mexican-American. Oh wait, Trinidad has already hit De La Hoya with loaded gloves.
8. – Teddy Atlas – If he was busy training Oscar, maybe we would be saved his presence on Friday Night Fights for a few months. I mean, who gave Teddy the permission to become boxing’s Ralph Nader?
9. – Emanuel Steward – We could keep Emanuel off the HBO PPV broadcast team for De La Hoya vs. Mayweather fight. Viewers would then be spared from hearing his disdain for Lil’ Floyd. Boy, would I love to know what the hell happened in Michigan between the Mayweathers and Steward…was there a ghetto getdown in Grand Rapids?
10. – Don House – I just like the humble and quiet trainer from Las Vegas, Nevada. He trains Joan Guzman and others, but I rarely see his name in print, so I thought I would put it here.