De La Hoya vs Ross

Oscar's not that much bigger than Ross.
I don't think Whitaker was bigger/better than Ross either.

 

How not?

135 probably was Ross' peak weight. That he won titles in two higher divisions is a reflection of his skill.

Oscar, meanwhile, though a beast there outgrew lightweight by the age of what, 22?

 

i think mismatch is going way too far, oscar should be favorite on size/power but there are a few catagories ross is better in too.

i watched pea - oscar yesterday. ross would get hit more than pea did but his chin is equal or better than whitaker's and oscar landed a good few decent shots in that.

 

Oscar is bigger, yes.
It's not the massive difference and extreme "mismatch" people have made it out to be though.

Pernell Whitaker stayed at lightweight until he was 27 or 28 years old.
Was Whitaker v De La Hoya a mismatch at 147 ??

Ross beat some decent 147 genuine welters, including Ceferino Garcia, who went on to be some of the best MIDDLES of the day.

The idea that Ross gets crushed by Oscar because he's "too small" just doesn't ring true for me.
​

 

the commentators did say whitaker was 150+ in that fight

 

How many pounds bigger, in your opinion ?

 

Henry Armstrong said Barney Ross was actually 160 pounds.
It's all guesswork.

We can use our own eyes. Mine say Whitaker and Ross aren't much difference in size.

 

i'm gonna go 65/35 for oscar.

maybe he stops ross, i don't think that's too likely as ross was tough, significantly more than the other way tho. if not he is inconsistent in fights and ross has superior stamina.

i agree they look similar, whitaker being marginally bigger, but not so much it'd matter if they fought.
i'm not saying the figure was correct. i posted that because i was suprised when they said it.

 

It might well be a correct figure. Whitaker was already 33 years old and it was Oscar who was stepping up in weight to challenge !

Either way. Whitaker was not known for having immense welterweight power or strength and was 5'6 and strictly a pure boxer. Essentially he was a lightweight who had moved up too. Whether he's 4 pounds heavier than Ross, or 9 pounds heavier, I don't think weight's the factor that counts here.
We're in agreement. :good

 

Today's rehydration clause may leave Ross at an unfair disadvantage though he could still win at 147 lbs. For all his strength, durability and head-snapping power, De La Hoya was not the smartest cat, boxing and trading at the wrong times, trying to steal rounds with last minutes flurries/the odd hip thrust. He was stiff, hittable; there was a well-lit path for clever boxers.

Ross' ring generalship was superb, as was his lateral movement and he had a rock for a chin which isn't going to crumble when a hook gets through. A stream of jabs and clever rolls may keep Oscar squared-up and in that coiled state for too long where his retaliations will be read, especially during the ten second marker.

Oscar is a high hurdle for Ross and the smaller man's close-quartered ways would have him playing with fire but he successfully juggled it against men (albeit a bit smaller) much greater than Oscar which evens things up. He doesn't have to worry about being drawn in by the possum like Canzoneri but generally keep a look out for the left - slip the jab and roll under the hook.

None of this is easy but it's definitely within his capabilities.

 

Whitaker was doing same day weigh ins at lightweight, so he can't have been massive. 5'6 and his build tells us he wasn't.