He probably just did it for one big final payday, I got two problems with that statement: 1. De La Hoya knew he would have been putting himself at a massive disadvantage fighting at 145. 2. You are telling me De La Hoya wouldnt rather have had the fight at 154, course he would, Roach n Co knew exactly what they were doing asking him to go to 145. If the same De La Hoya fought Pacquiao that fought Mayweather, fight would have been different and anyone who says different knows nothing about Boxing. :deal
What was De La Hoya best weight then at the time he fought Mayweather, 147?? Yeah I would put money on Mosley beating Manny aswell, if Mosley ever fought Manny, it would be just like round 2 of the Mayweather fight all over again, he wouldnt be able to miss with that right hand. How can you say Manny will be considered an all time great, who has he fought in their primes and at their proper weight??
atschAgain, answered your own point. Floyd doesn't fight the fighters at their best weights. Yes, Oscars best weight AT THAT POINT was 154; BECAUSE HE WAS PAST PRIME. Oscar win for Manny is not a major one, IMO. Not a big win for his resume. For Floyd it is; WHICH SAYS A LOT FOR FLOYDS RESUME. Get it? The underlined point is painful and shows what a hypocritical, biased poster you are.
So you are telling me in a few years time, when people talk about Pacquiao's career, they wont talk about the De La Hoya win, course they will. Also Oscar had been fighting at Light Middle for years before the Mayweather fight (apart from two fights at Middle against Hopkins n Sturm). When he fought Manny at Welterweight, he had not fought there for 8 years, I bet thats why Roach asked him to get down to Welterweight, much much easier fight then for Manny.
On current standing, Manny's beaten better fighters than Mayweather is. But, neither guy is afraid. There's a lot at stake and both want to make sure they get what they're due. There's every chance Manny can do damage early in the fight. His movement's better than Floyd's at this stage, he's as fast and accurate. Floyd's a pure boxer with great countering skills and solid offence (though doesn't punch in combination as well as Marquez does, which is what kept Manny off balance). He hits hard enough and times it well enough to put Manny on the canvas. Both guys know it. Both want to make the most they can and be the best the can on the night.
FFS, the Oscar win ain't important. People like you might mention it as an important win for Mannys career, those in the know won't. Floyds win WAS BETTER; I ain't disputing that. What I'm saying is, it doesn't equate to him being an all time great or having a superior resume to Pac. Don't compare the following points to Pac's resume; this is merely to point out how wrong your previous point was: Was Hatton at his best weight when Floyd beat him? Was Gatti? Was Marquez? Unlike Manny, these wins have to be counted as some of Floyds definitive wins only because the rest of his resume isn't great. His most impressive win in my book was Hernandez, which was back at 130 lbs. Was Barrera at his best weight when Manny fought him? AT THAT TIME, as you made that strange point. Yes. Morales? Marquez? Cotto? Now this is debatable, but he was a lb under what he showed up for in the Clottey fight. At his best regardless of weight? No. BUT THAT'S WHAT AN OBJECTIVE ANALYST TAKES INTO ACCOUNT:deal
De La Hoya was intending to fight on after Pacquiao and intended to do so a different weights. plus the comments at the bottom of your post, De La Hoya gassed out against Mayweather late on allowing Mayweather to pick his shots better, Pacquiao would have done the exact same.
Such as? Don't put me in the same bracket as you mate. Have you read The Ring as of late? Some of the articles are shocking. The future of Boxing analysis is right here; the internet. Anyway, the rest of my points? Please :good
You arent half up your own arse. Who's opinion am I going to listen to most, a poster on a Boxing forum or an experienced Boxing journalist who has been in the game years. Tough decision that, there is a reason they write for the biggest Boxing magazine there is and you have to settle for a Boxing forum.
You half to be up your own arse, with a lot of idiots posting on these forums. I would suggest you read the recent 'Floyd vs The Greats' article to prove how bad The Ring has got, though, you'd probably agree with most of it.
To be fair I think the 2007 Hatton up at 147 with Billy Graham in the corner is better than the 2009 Hatton at 140 with Mayweather/Beard in charge. You've only got to look at the respective weigh-in pics to see that :yep