...nope, I'm not talking about some prime for prime fantasy match at 140lbs or 147lbs in a time machine. Nor an exhibition. There appear to have been no threads made on it here, and coverage in the boxing media has been ...reserved (but existent) - but since November there have been quiet talks for DLH and MRM to return to action, in a real sanctioned bout...versus each other. Last week Oscar was given the rubberstamp by the Californian government to undergo the medical exams that will be his remaining barrier to a fighting license from the state athletic commission. If he gets it, his Argentinian fellow retiree has agreed in principle to be his opponent. My guess would be they are shooting for the weekend before or after Cinco de Mayo. That is pure conjecture, however. The fight itself, though, appears to be a real life thing and might actually happen. They have one common opponent: some guy named Floyd Mayweather Jr., who defeated ODLH via SD at junior middle and MRM via MD and UD at welterweight. This is supposedly going to be at 69kg...which is basically a catch-weight of 152lbs. That might be the most shocking thing about this entire situation to me... I would have sworn neither of these gorditos could make super middle at this point.
I would like to see this just to watch both of them gas out mid fight and quietly pray in the corner for the other guy to quit. I hope they can fight without USADA or VADA's blessing because PEDs will be needed just for both of them to raise their legs to get in the ring.
I don't see why I should think this will be any better/more legit than Tyson and RJJr. I'll catch it somewhere after the fact. The retirement league is filling a hole. The current boxing elite is looking down their collective noses at what is on the table and the last gen and prior (many of them already rich) guys are sucking it up. Fools.
Winner fights Maravilla for WBA (we be ancient) ‘Senior’ belt? Just kidding, they will definitely put the ‘Regular’ or ‘Interim’ belt on the line for this.
I'd probably favor Maidana just based off of him being in better form a lot more recently, but who knows. If De La Hoya wins (provided the fight actually happens), Sturm is on the comeback and I'm sure he'd want revenge.
Fairly obvious what Oscar's long term plan here is (assuming he believes he can and will be victorious, despite being over a decade older and having not competed in a dozen years, compared to Maidana's 6½) It would automatically legitimize him for a certain very lucrative rematch with someone who is currently fielding offers to do exhibitions with YouTubers or rematch an MMA champion and failed boxing crossover... Defeating the last serious opponent and last one to give PBF trouble (and I'd argue that in their first bout anyway, Maidana gave him a much harder time and was closer to winning than Oscar was) vaults him to first place in the sweepstakes. Ahead of even Pac, tbh.
Maybe. I mean i don't doubt this is in DLH's mind but by the time such a bout could be considered, Mayweather will be fighting exhibitions against circus midgets.
Floyd wouldn't hesitate to sign if Oscar were to kayo Marcos and then call him out. A sequel to World Awaits would do insane numbers from old-heads/lapsed fans and casuals alone, much as it shouldn't and much as us boxing purists would rightfully balk. It would dwarf what he could make picking on Japanese kickboxers, or McGregor again, or pretty much anybody else. Look at the nostalgia fever Tyson vs. Jones stirred up.
while interesting i doubt it happens. here in argentina there was talk of a maravilla martinez-maidana exhibition last year that obviously didnt happen. the thing is, maidana is grossly out of shape like naseem hamed-level and he seems more interested in promoting nad getting dates for his stable of fighters rather than getting in the ring once more.