Latin Welterweight Tourney: Rd 1: Oscar De La Hoya .Vs. Pipino Cuevas

I think you should have made this matchup at 12 rounds for two reasons one being that Oscar has never fought in a 15 rounder and second Oscar has questionable stanima which makes it unfair for him to get any votes in this thread.

 

Cuevas BY ko in 13th rd

 

I think this is a fight Oscar can win, you should all know i don't think Oscar beats many great welterweights, but this is one i think he can at his 147 best. Oscar's chin is not bad, he has decent lateral movement and has fast hands. Barring Cuevas sensationally knocking him into a corner then almost killing him, i'd take Oscar most of the time.

Oscar.

 

:goodoscar had a lot of talent, even at welter, and at his best he was a great mover. cuevas was a predator and was a VASTLY different fighter after he won the title than before. he was much less primitive, was able to cut off the ring and went after opponents consistently and viciously; he was a hard hitting, relatively patient power puncher. and yet he could still be outboxed even at his best. he was a fantastic puncher, but not a fantastic boxer. oscar, if he could move, work behind the jab, go in and out firing combinations could stay away from the best cuevas had. his chin was good enough that i think he could take SOME of cuevas' left hook. i see oscar fighting same as he did in the trinidad fight, but this time to the end

 

Cuevas was a bit overrated. He was a B-level fighter with an A-level punch. Oscar has to tools to school Cuevas and stop him in the mid to late rounds.

 

Cuevas is my favorite mexican fighter, but De La Hoya has overall better skills. On top of that I think De La Hoya has the chin, and skills to survive Cuevas Heavy Punches. I Say DLH UD.

 

To have any chance in this one, Oscar would need to fight a perfect fight. He would need to be in nothing less than peak condition. If it's a 12 round bout, I think the Golden Boy has a chance at winning a decision. Over 15, I feel Pipino gets to him late, as his much harder punches take their toll.

 

I think Oscar wins this with his better boxing skills but he has to not take any chances because of Cuevas's power the only thing that oscar has to be worried about is wheather Cuevas can take his power because if he can he will very dangerous from rounds 13 to 15 when Oscar is most tired , but I expect Oscar to box for the first 6 rounds and not leave himself open to Cuevas's power shots, and then start to let his combinations go had stop him in Rd 8.

 

Cuevas by death.

 

If Oscar was that good he did a good job hiding it.

 

If oscar gets macho then he'll be sucking canvas, he'd have to get on his bike & stay on it, if this was fought back in the 70's no way would oscar get the UD as any back peddling/milling on the retreat & the roof would have been boo'd off:smoke

 

Over 15 its hard to say...Oscar gasses in almost every long fight he has and with 3 extra rounds to put the hurt on, this suits Pipino.

Sure Ceuves hasnt gone this far many times before but thats because nobody could make it.

Oscar does have the offensive capabilities to take out Pipino earlier..He could do this..But would he take the risks to do it?
I bet not, he would be safety first all the way..Everything Pipino did was with the intention to hurt.
Even shots landing on the gloves, arms, on Oscar's protector, on his chest..little sneaky shots to the back of the head would take their toll.
Thats why I would think Oscar would be looking to engage Pipino only when necessary and would be on the move almost constantly...likely zapping his energy even earlier.

As the fight wore on I could see greater success for Pipino in actually landing clean stuff that usually meant to end for most fighters.
He wasnt just some caveman swinging his club in there..He could be very methodical when he wanted to be and his ring generalship was quite good even if it wasnt so noticeable.
Watch how he gradually wears down a very classy and fluid boxer in Angel Espada.

Over 12 Id go with Oscar..He is smart enough to make it this distance and likely holds on to a big early lead..He might even catch out Ceuves with his quick left hook and drop him.
The last two or three rounds would be hell but I think he probably wins wide over 12..even though the fight was a lot harder for him then the scores would indicate.

Over 15 though...I dont know..Oscar would have to fight a tactical brilliant fight. He gots the skills, the speed and his chin is solid enough to take a few whacks from Pipino. But does he have the stamina and mental toughness to take him those extra 3 rounds?

Im gonna flip a coin..Ill be back.