25.09.07 – By Matthew Hurley, photos by Sumio Yamada: In the wake of a miserable week in which Oscar De La Hoya has had to contend with illicit photographs being splashed all over the internet the “Golden Boy” has soldiered on and provided his opinion on the upcoming Ricky Hatton – Floyd Mayweather bout which is to take place in Las Vegas on December 8th.
“I really think Hatton will win,” the fighter/promoter said. Of course that may very well be the promoter talking, considering that a Hatton – De La Hoya fight could even exceed the pay per view buys that Oscar’s tussle with Mayweather achieved.
Still, many are still focusing on the randy photos, fake or not provided to gossip hounds by a stripper named Milana Dravnel. According to this hardly credible attention seeker she took the photos in May in a Philadelphia hotel room and then showed them to some friends.
One of the friends, allegedly, stole the photos and things degenerated from there. Now, after the firestorm has begun to settle in light of the fact of how silly this whole situation is, this former Scores stripper is now on the fence and possibly recanting as to whether the photos are real or not. In the end, who really cares?
What is important, at least in boxing circles is whether or not Oscar will fight again, as he has maintained he will despite his close decision loss to Mayweather last May. According to Oscar he would love nothing more than to see Hatton defeat Mayweather and then take on the “Hitman” at Wembley Stadium next spring.
“I really do see Floyd coming into this bout overconfident,” he maintains. “Ricky is the younger and hungrier fighter and he truly wants to prove he’s the best. I don’t think Mayweather can hurt Ricky. But I do think Ricky can hurt Floyd.”
Obviously De La Hoya has a vested interest in the outcome of this bout, not only for his short-term goals as a fighter but long-term goals in regards to Golden Boy Promotions which is promoting Hatton – Mayweather. Oscar and company intend to become the promotional firm of the future and their new found allegiance with Bob Arum’s Top Rank is helping to provide boxing fans with marquee matchups. But with Arum and Don King already past retirement age Oscar wants his company to rule the roost for years to come. Couple that with his buying Ring Magazine and you’re looking at more of an entrepreneur than fighter – which is what Oscar probably always really wanted to be.
But there is still some fight left in De La Hoya, and a massive ego that needs feeding. A bout at Wembley Stadium against Ricky Hatton would provide both the necessary juice to get him through another grueling training camp and a fitting, grand stage to exit upon. The only thing standing in the way is the best pound for pound fighter in the business, and Floyd Mayweather already beat Oscar and he plans on doing the same to Ricky Hatton.