I was sparring with someone who hit me with a very similar liver shot on my right side when I was against the ropes . He set it up beautifully , I never saw it coming . My feet instantly felt like heavy cement . I very much doubt Oscar took a dive .
I'm not sure why people think Dela Hoya took a dive, but I'd be very surprised if it was true. Dela Hoya was a warrior and had far more to gain from a win than a dive. At this point Dela Hoya was already past his prime and too far from his his best weight class. He'd already struggled against Sturm and should have lost that fight, but for the gift. Hopkins was just too big and too good for him. Dela Hoya had no business boxing at Middleweight. He didn't take a dive. Why would he?
Most people think he took a dive because of his reaction I mean he had enough energy to pound his fist on the floor but but didn't have enough to get up. If the wind was truly knocked out of him he wouldn't have had the energy to even pound the mat