Diego "Golden Kid" De la Hoya

He's taking a pretty hefty step up in class next month, against Manny Roman.

"Suavecito" is coming off a TKO2 loss to Leo Santa Cruz and has both lost thrice and drawn thrice in 23 bouts. Two of the losses, however, were to current world titlist (Santa Cruz and Randy Caballero) and Caballero vs. Roman was fairly competitive. He also has popped the cherries of a couple of prospects including John Amuzu when 14-0 and eventual world title challenger Oscar Blanquet when 8-0.

DDLH ought to be a heavy favorite, yet has never fought anyone close to as good as Roman before.

This is actually the least appetizing portion of a triple-header on Fox Sports 1 on February 27th. The co-main pits two skilled and powerful unbeaten cruisers from top amateur programs together, in Yunier Dorticos of Cuba and Murat Gassiev of Russia. The main event is Caballero's 1st defense of his IBF bantamweight title, against third-time contender Alberto Guevara. :bbb


Roman was down in the 2nd in both of his decision losses, and was stopped in two by LSC - so there is a chance that DDLH stops him early. If not, and it goes longer than he is used to going, he will get some valuable experience against someone a bit tougher and with more tricks up his sleeve than anyone Diego has been fed until now. I do think he manages to stop Roman inside eight, ultimately. He's too athletic and aggressive not to, IMO. This is the right kind of progression for him at this stage. The kid's going places, and not just because of his famous (but largely estranged) uncle.

 

Yeah!!!

Great card. All competitive match-ups. The only "showcase" is Diego's, and that's a step up for him, like I said.

 

Golden Boy must have serious faith in him if they're willing to move him this fast. Manny Roman is no world beater, of course, but to jump all the way up to him after having feasted on no better than Miguel Tamayo and the like? That's some chest-out shizzle.

 

Meh, that will be the least interesting part of the card IMO.

Caballero vs. Guevara >/= Dorticos vs. Gassiev > DDLH vs. Roman > Dong vs. whoever is about to get donged.

 

Oscar. Though I guess I had that wrong; they're in fact 2nd cousins or something? :think

Anyway, word is, even though he gave Diego a break signing him to GBP, the relationship between Oscar and his nephew/cousin/whatever has never been what you'd call 'warm". He isn't very nice to him personally, even though as family he does have his back professionally.

 

Dude, there are many stories out there detailing Oscar's c*ntness.

 

The more I think about it, the more Diego's people should instruct him to carry Roman and now blow him out too quickly. If he does the latter, Golden Boy might rush him into something he isn't ready for and possibly ruin his chances to develop into a real prospect with a confidence-shattering gut-check loss.

We have seen it all too often.

(shout out to Francisco Bojado...)