By Matt Yanofsky: This Saturday, Oscar De La Hoya 38-5 (30 KO’s) will be fighting on network television for the first time in over 7 years, as he kicks off his farewell tour against former super featherweight champion Steve “Two Pounds” Forbes 33-5 (9 KO’s). Forbes is considered a tune up for the Golden Boy prior to his September 20th rematch with Floyd Mayweather. De La Hoya will have a significant size advantage as the contracted fight weight is for 150 lbs which is 10 lbs above Forbes current fight weight and 20 lbs above where he won his world title.
De La Hoya is one of the best fighters in recent history and has always fought excellent opposition during his illustrious 16 year career. De La Hoya has beaten a ton of big names from between the super featherweight and junior middleweight divisions including Fernando Vargas, Pernell Whitaker, Julio Cesar Chavez (twice), and Hector Camacho among plenty of others. In addition, his 5 losses all came to future hall of famers in Felix Trinidad, Shane Mosley (twice), Bernard Hopkins, and Floyd Mayweather..
The former six division world champion has a legendary left hook, great chin, and a ton of heart, as he has never ducked a challenge. In his last fight, he lost a close points decision to undefeated pound for pound king Floyd Mayweather and will get his chance at revenge if he gets past Forbes.
Forbes is a great story as we all know his nickname “Two Pounds” refers to his birth weight. In his 20th pro fight, Forbes won the IBF super featherweight title by scoring an uncharacteristic come from behind knockout of John Brown. Forbes went on to defend the title once before losing it on the scales as he missed weight by 4 ½ lbs prior to his second title defense against David Santos. Forbes was able to starve himself in future to make the super featherweight limit in two future title fights but lost both times.
Forbes was able to get back onto the national scene as he was selected to be a contestant on the second season of The Contender. Forbes made the most of this opportunity. Although he was outsized as the fights were held at welterweight, Forbes used his boxing ability made it to the finals where he dropped a disputed decision to Grady Brewer, who previously fought at 154 and 160 lbs.
Following the contender, Forbes outboxed the undefeated Demetrius Hopkins but lost a highly controversial decision in what ESPN.Com voted the 2007 Robbery of the Year. In his last fight, Forbes won a much deserved split decision over former mega prospect Francisco Bojado. While Forbes will be badly outsized against De La Hoya, he has a ton of heart and a great chin as his 5 losses were by decision. In addition, he has never been knocked down or in danger of being stopped.
Although Forbes is a good fighter and an even better feel good story, I wish De La Hoya would have challenged an opponent who sized up to him better. It would have been nice if he was fighting a legitimate welter or junior middleweight contender (such as Joshua Clottey, Luis Collazo or Daniel Santos) because the boxing fans deserve a good competitive fight for free as we have been paying $50 a piece to watch each of De La Hoya’s last 8 fights.
From a business stand point, it is obvious he is taking on what is considered a low risk opponent as he does not want to jeopardize a major payday in September against Mayweather. I am hoping Forbes pulls off an upset as this would force Mayweather to face the Miguel Cotto-Antonio Margarito winner but this appear unlikely as De La Hoya is a huge favorite.