Golden Boy Promotions’ founder Oscar De La Hoya said earlier this week that he soon expects to have a signed agreement for undefeated “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather Jr. to fight WBA welterweight super champion “Sugar” Shane Mosley in May.
“The various camps are working extremely hard to make it happen,” said De La Hoya, a retired former boxing world champion in six weight divisions. “That’s the fight that could really take boxing to another level, because it’s two great American fighters meeting each other.”
De La Hoya (39-6, 30 KOs), who won a gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, proceeded to speculate that Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) will still meet WBO world welterweight titlist Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) in the near future.
“That fight has to happen,” said De La Hoya, who was absolutely embarrassed by Pacquiao via an eighth round TKO when they fought in December 2008. “It’s too big not to happen. We just have to cross one hurdle.”
The “one hurdle” mentioned by De La Hoya regards Mayweather’s insistence that both he and Pacquiao undergo Olympic-style drug testing prior to any bout.
Pacquiao has never tested positive for any form of banned substances and Mayweather’s charges are truly baseless at this juncture.
Nevertheless, some onlookers have become understandably skeptical of Pacquiao due to his staunch reluctance to adhere to Mayweather’s proposed testing methods.
“The public will hopefully make him change his mind,” said De La Hoya. “Why would you not want to earn $40 million? Why would you not want to show the public that all this speculation is nonsense? Be the one to stand up and say it.”
Instead of Mayweather, Pacquiao is now scheduled to box former IBF welterweight champion Joshua “The Hitter” Clottey (35-3-0-1, 20 KOs) March 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.
Provided that a deal is reached, Mayweather will rather ironically scrap Mosley (46-5-1, 39 KOs), an admitted abuser of steroids.
“I believe Mosley will raise his hand and say, ‘Take me to the laboratory,’” said De La Hoya, who lost a split decision to a doped-up Mosley in June 2000. “And I’ll be the first to applaud him.”
Clottey is an above average fighter and he consistently battles with heart in the ring.
Still, Pacquiao should ultimately overwhelm Clottey with his vast abilities and emerge victorious when they meet.
On the contrary, it is difficult to predict with any firm confidence that Mayweather will be able to trump the talented Mosley.
“Styles make fights,” said Roger Pit” Perron, 73, a respected boxing trainer from Brockton who now works with Mike and Rich Cappiello at their gym, Cappiello Brothers Boxing and Training. “Mosley is the one guy that can beat Floyd. Mosley has quick hands, he will press the fight, and he is a legit welterweight who has fought real champions.”
Perron also stated his belief that Mosley will actually prove to be a more difficult opponent for Mayweather than Pacquiao would have been.
“Mosley is a tough guy. I think Floyd would have beaten Pacquiao. But, I don’t know if Floyd can take Mosley.”
Boxing fans want, and deserve, to see Pacquiao versus Mayweather.
Sadly, boxing has aptly been called “the red light district of sports” and fans rarely receive what they warrant.
Joshua Clottey will likely lose to Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley very possibly will upset Floyd Mayweather.
Subsequently, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather will never fight.
Typically, boxing and its deprived fans will be the biggest losers yet again.
*Cappiello Brothers Boxing gym is located on 162 Main Street in Brockton, Massachusetts (02301).
508-583-4303
*Listen to Roger “Pit” Perron on the Marciano-Tartaglia Show Friday nights from 5-7 PM on 1460 AM (WXBR)
To call into the show, dial 508-586-1460 anytime between the aforementioned hours.
Comments
Maybe Oscar should sign the waiver of confidentiality first as suggested by Thomas Hauser and really set a very good example before this fight has to happen. One more thing is, if the fight should happen, Manny Pacquiao should make it offical that the fight should be in Dallas and not Nevada as a perfect example of level playing field.
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