I'd like to have a debate with those who say Oscar was bad for the sport, that he got what he deserved last night and that Golden Boy is killing the sport. I expect arguments such as he got in the way of fairer match ups, Golden Boy Promotions are taking too much money from us and that he was picking on a small guy. But this doesn't make him bad for the sport, my reasons are: He was a cross over star and brought a lot of new attention to the sport, he made people fans and inspired them to fight. Golden Boy are putting on the fights that gain the most mainstream attention, this is good for the sport as it attracts new fans, fighters are always looking for the biggest money fights and the casual fans just arn't going to be as interested in the next un known challenger getting a shot, fair or not. You may see this as not a good thing, and I agree it isn't in an ideal world. But to keep going, boxing needs big money wether you like it or not and these "fairer" match ups arn't going to generate that. Maybe this isn't the long term answer, but is there another way? Oscar entertained us for many years and he gave his all last night against the pound for pound number one who outweighed him on fight night, smaller guy or not, he took his beating like a man. I felt saddened with the matter of the loss, unlike those enjoyed it in a sick and jelous way. I was made up for Pacquiao too of course and celebrated the next legend. Respect to Oscar and thanks for memories, you will be missed.
No, as far as I'm concerned he was part of the problem. Bringing in revenue is fine but the problem ultimately lies in shitty match making, charging people money for fights that should be televised free and doing so to satisfy prima donnas with massive purse demands. DLH epitomized this sort of mentality which is exactly what is wrong with the sport. No bs about how brutal the sport is. We all know that already. But at the end of the day it is a sport and a sport which for a very long time now has not catered towards the fans. We've basically been ripped off time and time again. Last night, if you paid for it, was no different. The worst part about it all is the illusion it creates. Mayweather P4P #1 for so long without fighting a prime opponent is an example. Ditto for Jones. DLH getting waxed by Pacquiao all of a sudden now you have people thinking he could top Margarito. It's insane. Guys in all weight classes are avoided for the sole reason of farming big money purses while fooling the public. This thing feeds on itself.
True to an extand but you're judjing him by the end of his career. When Hoya was coming up he fought everyone there was to fight.
I see where you're coming from. I was just thinking before, I missed the main argument against is that there are too many PPV's keeping the casual fans from gaining interest. I suppose with me living in the UK, we don't get anywhere near as many as those in the US. The only answer is to boycott PPV, but until then, I wouldn't blame Oscar. He is doing the same as we would all do and without the attraction of mega purses, athletes would search for the money elsewhere.
Oscar knew what he was up againts... Henry Armstrong would know, Duran would know. Sometimes people just blind themselves and dont see anything else... Most of the Pinoys knew...
He was great for boxing up to 2003, he always fought the best in there primes and was exciting to watch+ but for me 2 things go against him he lost to the best he fought apart from Vargas and secondly post 2003 he never really performed and got a gift against sturm,Looked like he took a dive against Hopkins and was getting in the way recently of big fights being made.
This might be what is best for you, but for boxing as a whole, Pacquiao-De La Hoya did a lot more for the sport than any other this year in my opinion. Without these superfights and cross over stars, boxing would fade away.
he was great until he pulled off that scam last night....that was not dlh in the ring the was goldenboy promotions getting pacman hyped for the next few big pay fights . ****ing disgusting. (imo of course.some people may have seen it different and believe dlh was weight drained,but i dont.)
And that will attract new fans into the sport again and keep it going. You can't ask for a great fight every time, I'm sure De La Hoya didn't know it was going to be that one sided, nor did most who were picking him by KO.
dlh brought alot of money and atttention to the game. for that stnad point he was very good but in terms of great fights, in his biggest match-ups dlh was boring. the trinidad fight and the hopkins fight really stick out. fights like smm II and mayweather kind of dull too, of course match-ups have to do with it as well becasuse the first SMM was damn good.
Oscar was one of the last big money makers in the sport. Boxing will have a tough time without him now. He wa the one that "made" Mayweather and now Pacquiao (more the former then the latter, but lets face it, Pacquiao fights will be very big now because he's gotten alot of exposure after beating Oscar).
