Oscar De La Hoya announces his retirement

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LOS ANGELES -- Oscar De La Hoya announced his retirement from boxing on Tuesday, four months after his final bout ended in a one-sided loss to Manny Pacquiao.

"I've come to the conclusion that it's over inside the ring for me," De La Hoya said at a news conference.

The 36-year-old De La Hoya's remarkable career including winning a 1992 Olympic gold medal and professional titles in six weight divisions. He also is the highest-grossing star in the history of the sport.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=4068202

Saw it on Sky News as well

Thoughts?

cowzerp

Its for the best for oscar in a health manner and for his legacy, he'd go down as a legend either way but with new fans coming along its sad when they only see the bad oscar and think thats what he's about-happened tyson in his last while, manny beat him too convincingly for him to continue-he's not doing bad for himself on the promotion front either..

Sugerraysarah

doh ! u beat me too it

I thought i was going to announce it

a well looks like OSCAR DEL LA GEORGEOUS is finally retiring , god i will miss him soooooo much

what a fighter but I am glad he is retiring i would hate to see him getting hurt , now with Joe and Oscar leaving what will us gals do

cya sarah:p:p

joepenguin

http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=8253&cat=boxer

What a career. He fought at the top level for 15 years.

marcusluck

So, who gets the credit for sending ODLH to the convalescent home?



The Human Buzz! Has retired more fighters than Social Security.
Hatton is next!

walshb

joepenguin wrote: »

http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=8253&cat=boxer

What a career. He fought at the top level for 15 years.

And retired in disgrace with a woeful display!

BTW, I was an Oscar fan but he always failed to
really deliever in his big fights

T-K-O

The Golden Boy, one of my all time favorites. Retired in disgrace, that post is a disgrace. Dela carried boxing stateside when nobody wanted to know. A guy who fought the best of his generation. Failed in the big fights :rolleyes: Robbed against Tito and Mosley 2.

walshb

Why is it that every time anyone posts anything you disagree with, you get your
knickers in a twist?:D

Anyway, here it is:

I was a major fan of Oscar, but when Oscar simply became a joke and a complete
hype job, I then switched off. Oscar was finished many years ago and for him, his fans and his media machine to be spinning and hyping him as still a world force was a disgrace.

Before his disgraceful show vs. Pac, any fool who hasn't a clue about boxing would think Oscar was at the height of his career. He even had the old man Dundee bullsh!tting and lying about the shape he was in and how he never felt better.

Look, he hasn't been good for years and I think it's a disgrace that he
was bullsh1tting people and trying to con
folks into buying into his lies.

He gave us a major con job vs. PBF and though I thought
he won the bout, the show was laughable from both men.

He finished his career disgracefully, fumbling around the ring getting whupped by
a blown up midget. This came years after he should have retired.
There "we were" expecting to believe that Oscar was
still close to peak and he puts on a performance
that a novice would be ashamed of.

Hey, by all means, talk about his best days, but the last few years
of ODLH were a con and a sham and an insult to boxing!

Apologies to anyone offended by the truth and by
calling a spade a spade

Regarding Tito. I gave it to Oscar, but the chap showed a lack
of true true class in basically running for the final
three rds. For that alone, he didn't deserve it.

Can you imagine a Hearns or Sugar Ray at peak acting like that?

The second Mosley fight was simply a money spinner and both had
seen better days!

Finally, even his retirement was media event and spin and it
shows the neck of Oscar. After his disgrace vs. Pac, the guy shouldn't be showing
his face in public!

T-K-O

Sweet jesus, something snapped along time ago. I'm going commando today, no knicker twists this morning.

Shouldn't show his face in public, con jobs ? did you pay for his fights did you travel to watch his fights ?

What you think is deserving or not doesn't matter one tiny little bit.

Yes his career faded and he picked his opponents "carefully" in recent times but most guys make a career out of that. Who expected Oscar to be anywhere close to his peak ?? Answer nobody and if that is what you thought coming into that fight more fool you. The signs where there for all to see against the average Steve Forbes he looked like a dead man walking and that was at 150, 5 heavier than the pac fight.

Everyone is ****e and only in it for the money in your world, what a sad lonely place that must be.

walshb

I never said I expected Oscar to be close to his peak. I said he was leading
some to believe that and hyping it and lying about it. I never bought into it for a second.

His win over Vargas showed me that it was time for Oscar to retire. He won and did so after a tough battle. He was done then, but he continued on. I have no problem with that. I think the fact that he and the hype claiming that he was still the best was a sham.

His farce vs PBF was just that, a farce and then his shambolic display against
Pac really was the final insult.

Like I said, by all means discuss his best days and I will salute his
willingness to fight many and his victories at peak; but his
conning and hyping when he knew he was a spent
force was laughable and it never fooled me.

No matter what way one looks at it, he was disgraced in his last fight
and you can make all the excuses in the world for this, but in the lead
up, he was crapping on and so were his entourage about how
he still 'had it.' Oscar was finished as a decent fighter several years before
2008.

The bottom line is that I have standards and expect
quality when you are being bombarded with
advertising for quality. I will ridicule when this fails
to deliver and I have said many times
previous that Oscar was finished years ago and his
insistence on still insisting he's quality should
be mocked.

You seem to accept any old tripe!

T-K-O

Yes I accept any old tripe:rolleyes: For starters I shouldn't be reading yours.

Any dog in the street knew Oscar was past his prime that is a given.
A boxer hying his abilities - now there is a novel idea. What was he suppose to say. I want to fight on but the tank is empty.
Do you honestly believe Dela went into the Pac fight thinking he was done and hoping to "con" people one last time.:rolleyes:

You are the typical couch potato, bar stool expect.

I guess Ali, Tyson and likes also retired in disgrace.

walshb

What Ali and Tyson have to do with Oscar, I do not know.

Ali fought 5 or 6 fights too much and his last couple were
pitiful and he was already showing serious signs
of distress.

Your problem seems to be that you are so wound and sensitive at any
debate that deviates from a certain point.

Nobody is disagreeing with you here, so why
you seem to be a little sensitive at my
dissing Oscar's LATTER career is a bit strange:rolleyes:

You seem to forget conveniently that I was a fan of Oscar
in his heyday and at peak, he was very impressive.

I am not discussing that element of his career. I am merely
pointing out that the last few years were a sham and a con and were
deliberately orchestrated to gain as much money
from as many morons as possible.

You make excuses for the last few years, valid ones, but still excuses.
I don't and don't accept those excuses or sit
on the fence. Oscar was never ever ever a top
tier fighter in the last few years.

I know he spouted this crap, but I didn't buy it
and his failings and poor performances should
be criticised due to them being poor and for the very
fact that he and his machine were trying to portray
class and quality

I speak my mind and call it for what it was, a con job
by a past it and stale fighter who deliberately tried to mislead some
gullible sods into believing he still had it!

Is or was Oscar a great fighter? Yes. At peak he was, but the last few
years of Oscar really nauseated me.

So, TKO, if you actually read what I am writing and try to
digest it slowly, you will see that I am speaking the truth and
that I like you, rated Oscar, but I will also heavily
criticise the last few years for what they were, shambolic and
NEVER worthy of mention!

T-K-O

So in short Ali is a disgrace and should be ashamed to show his face in public.

spongeman

I have to agree with the Mod on this one.

Losses to Trinidad,Mosely,Mayweather,Pacman,Hopkins. Mmmmmm.

Basically he lost a lot of his big fights. Never got revenge for any of these defeats in rematches either. His good looks and ring charisma carried him all the way.

Only big win he had was against Whitaker.

These are hard facts i'm afraid, and records tell the truth. Ok he did'nt shy away from the best but he did'nt beat them either.

walshb

T-K-O wrote: »

So in short Ali is a disgrace and should be ashamed to show his face in public.

Good retort:rolleyes:

walshb

Sponge, I rate Oscar, I do, but you make good points.
A real real champ prevails in the big ones and the Tito
loss to me was bad, even though Oscar was the superior boxer, his
lack of will to actually WIN that bout soured me.

BTW, this was when Oscar was at absolute peak.

To try and run and coast for the last three rds is not what I consider
true greatness. He should have sealed that win and piled it on; he didn't
and chose the 'easier' rourte which cost him the fight, and now when
I think of it, deservedly so!

I have said time and time again that at peak he was a very good
fighter. I refuse to credit the last few years
of his reign. The whole thing was purely a PR
and money spinning con job. He never conned me!

I will criticise him for this and I will
criticise him for a woeful performance
against Pac and a less than impressive outing
against PBF.

Remember, it was Oscar who was hying all this.
He deserves then to be criticised for hyping a non
event and selling a non event and then
dismally failing to deliver.

The same with THE joke of a 'super fight'
with PBF.

spongeman

Ok he won titles in six different weights ? Against who ?

Whitaker
Chavez (washed out)
Castillejo (Who)
Vargas ( Yawn)
Sturm ( lucky)
Mayorga (washed out)

Does'nt read that well does it? Apart from the first its hardly a whos who of top boxers.

Doubs

Having read both sides I must admit I side with TKO on this one.

I agree with the points walsh makes about not winning his big big fights, and sure his career faded towards the end, but to call him a disgrace and a con is OTT in my view.

I don't see how you fail to grasp TKO's comparison with Ali. Ali went on way too long (as most boxers do), more so than anyone else considering the effects it has had on his health after boxing, and on that basis, by your reckoning, should also be labelled a disgrace. You say your gripe with Dela is that he tried to pull the wool over peoples eyes by hyping his fights when he was past it and, while valid, so did Ali - often in disgraceful means such as the lead up to the Frazier fights. Whats the difference?

If you knew it was all bluster from Dela in the lead up to the Manny fight why did you watch it?

Dela has retired with his health intact, money in the bank, and a successful career lined up out of the ring, he should be admired for that and if anything a role model for people who get into boxing.

At the end of the day he has done massive things for the sport and for that should be given his dues, similar to how Ali has been. To call him a disgrace is quite frankly, a disgrace.

walshb

As far as I am concerned, Oscar was a legit three weight fighter and a very good one.
I don't rate him high at all above 140 lbs.

The 154 stint was very average and I have a hard time seeing this Oscar being competitive with a Norris, Brown, Leonard, Hearns, McCallum, Curry, Mugabi, Starling or even Winky.
His best wins were over an average Vargas and Campas. Mayorga was never
a great fighter!

His best 147 lb win was against Quartey. Good, but no great!

His MW title was simply not worth the paper it was written on.

As a 130-140 lb fighter, Oscar was very good and would have been
a tough fight for many greats.

spongeman

Dela has retired with his health intact, money in the bank, and a successful career lined up out of the ring, he should be admired for that and if anything a role model for people who get into boxing.



I think you have summed it up. Nothing in - ring to remember him by.

walshb

Doubs wrote: »

Having read both sides I must admit I side with TKO on this one.

I agree with the points walsh makes about not winning his big big fights, and sure his career faded towards the end, but to call him a disgrace and a con is OTT in my view.

I don't see how you fail to grasp TKO's comparison with Ali. Ali went on way too long (as most boxers do), more so than anyone else considering the effects it has had on his health after boxing, and on that basis, by your reckoning, should also be labelled a disgrace. You say your gripe with Dela is that he tried to pull the wool over peoples eyes by hyping his fights when he was past it and, while valid, so did Ali - often in disgraceful means such as the lead up to the Frazier fights. Whats the difference?

If you knew it was all bluster from Dela in the lead up to the Manny fight why did you watch it?

Dela has retired with his health intact, money in the bank, and a successful career lined up out of the ring, he should be admired for that and if anything a role model for people who get into boxing.

At the end of the day he has done massive things for the sport and for that should be given his dues, similar to how Ali has been. To call him a disgrace is quite frankly, a disgrace.

I said the latter part of his career was simply a con and a money spinner, the latter part.

Ali fought in the heavies for almost 20 years and at aged 38 he was fighting the best best men in HIS division. Not blown up midgets.

Ali was there to fight absolute anyone and everyone.

Jeez, Ali when past it was still taking on the likes of Lyle and Shavers.
For chrissake, that is a whole different ball game to what Oscar
was facing at the end of his career, apart from HOP, who did dominate him.

So, the comparison is inaccurate and unnecessary. I never said Oscar was
a joke, I said the latter part of his career was and the
dismal display against Pac after all that ridiculous hype was
farcical and deserves ridicule.

Why did I watch it? What has that got to do with it.
Do you know if I watched it LIVE?

Anyway, in the latter part of his career he was shown up as a chancer and I knew
it for a few years. Again, very good in his heyday.

BTW, you mention Ali hyping his bouts with Frazier.

I'll just remind you that Mr Ali was the Heavyweight champion of the
world. This was the richest prize in sport and you are comparing that
hype to the crap Oscar was spinning over the past few years?
Are you serious?

If Ali now decided to Hype a 4th meeting with Joe, Yes, that would
be farcical, but at the time, Ali was the best fighter on the planet
facing a very very tough man in Frazier!

T-K-O

walshb wrote: »

Good retort:rolleyes:

Your welcome. Oscar according to you had a good career that finished on a low so he is a disgrace - the same logic must apply to other boxers.

Oh wait, logic - walsh..

walshb

Just for the record, I don't believe I ever said Oscar the man
was a disgrace. He is a great man and a classy man. My issue is
that the latter part of his career was a hype and con job and the performance
vs. Pac was a disgrace. What else could anyone call that woeful display?

I wish folks would calm down, relax and not jump in all sensitive.
Nobody said Oscar was a bad fighter.

I said many times that in his heyday he was very good.
His latter career nauseated me and it was OTT for the
sake and for the hype and for the cash.

walshb

T-K-O wrote: »

Your welcome. Oscar according to you had a good career that finished on a low so he is a disgrace - the same logic must apply to other boxers.

Oh wait, logic - walsh..

Hey, you and Oscar's last post/outing are so similar, woeful!

T-K-O

spongeman wrote: »

I have to agree with the Mod on this one.

Losses to Trinidad,Mosely,Mayweather,Pacman,Hopkins. Mmmmmm.

Basically he lost a lot of his big fights. Never got revenge for any of these defeats in rematches either. His good looks and ring charisma carried him all the way.

Only big win he had was against Whitaker.

These are hard facts i'm afraid, and records tell the truth. Ok he did'nt shy away from the best but he did'nt beat them either.

Gotta agree with what - that is not what he is saying.

Anyway the RE never happened with Tito for a whole host of reasons. He beat Mosely in that rematch. Mayweather wouldn't fight him again. Pac - well pac was the end and Hopkins was always a stretch to far.


You can pick at any fighters CV but dela has one of the best around.

T-K-O

walshb wrote: »

Hey, you and Oscar's last post/outing are so similar, woeful!

Nice retort :rolleyes:

T-K-O

spongeman wrote: »

Ok he won titles in six different weights ? Against who ?

Whitaker
Chavez (washed out)
Castillejo (Who)
Vargas ( Yawn)
Sturm ( lucky)
Mayorga (washed out)

Does'nt read that well does it? Apart from the first its hardly a whos who of top boxers.

:rolleyes:

walshb

I think your problem seems to be that you jump in and generalise and fail to then discuss and analyse and read.

Like the Ali comparison? Not even bothered to actually give facts or compare and then
give your opinion. You read, get a bit exasperated and jump in.

Hey, he lost to Tito, beat Whitaker for the 147 lb belt, Whitaker in a weight
out of his league, aged 33 and past peak and Oscar struggled.

Hey, that is why I never rated Oscar as a 147 lb fighter.

It doesn't seem to be sinking in that I actually rate
Oscar as a fine 130-140 lb fighter.

I simply cannot
get excited with his 147-160 lb career, nor can I get
excited with the last few fights.

I cannot get over the hype that surrounded the PBF fight, the performance
of BOTH in the bout and then the Forbes debacle, and the weird weird
novice like performance against Pac. This came after he was professing
to the world at how good he STILL was!

As far as I am concerned, his last decent win was against Vargas.
And that was just decent.

His big bouts, he lost. Moslely and Tito!

Oasis44

What the de la hoya bashers seem to forget is the big fights he did lose were against the current (i.e. at the time he fought them) P4P kings.

He could have ducked these guys and fought fringe contenders to bump his record but he always fought the best. Taking on Hopkins was nuts but he did it because the fans wanted it and of course the pay day involved!

It is widely accepted that he did win the Trinidad and Mosley #2 fights but at the same time he really lost the Felix Strum fight and even admitted as much in his biography.

Yes his best years were pre 2002 but there is no denying the impact he has had on boxing - great role model and ambassador for the sport.

T-K-O

Doubs wrote: »

Having read both sides I must admit I side with TKO on this one.

I agree with the points walsh makes about not winning his big big fights, and sure his career faded towards the end, but to call him a disgrace and a con is OTT in my view.

I don't see how you fail to grasp TKO's comparison with Ali. Ali went on way too long (as most boxers do), more so than anyone else considering the effects it has had on his health after boxing, and on that basis, by your reckoning, should also be labelled a disgrace. You say your gripe with Dela is that he tried to pull the wool over peoples eyes by hyping his fights when he was past it and, while valid, so did Ali - often in disgraceful means such as the lead up to the Frazier fights. Whats the difference?

If you knew it was all bluster from Dela in the lead up to the Manny fight why did you watch it?

Dela has retired with his health intact, money in the bank, and a successful career lined up out of the ring, he should be admired for that and if anything a role model for people who get into boxing.

At the end of the day he has done massive things for the sport and for that should be given his dues, similar to how Ali has been. To call him a disgrace is quite frankly, a disgrace.

Calling a guy a disgrace when he carried the sport for so long is disrespectful and wrong. Sure Dela kept the gloves on longer than he should but who doesn't ??

Look at all the press Calzaghe got for hanging them up, that's how rare it is in boxing.

Dela didn't con anyone he has a massive fan base and they would turn up tomorrow to watch him fight. But to Walsh these fans are being conned :rolleyes:.
Did it ever occur to you that people just like to watch him fight - the arenas would be pretty empty if everyone stopped going as soon as the fighter in question is on the slide.


In football terms I guess Liverpool are conning us as they where once a great team ?? It's called being a fan

T-K-O

walshb wrote: »

I think your problem seems to be that you jump in and generalise and fail to then discuss and analyse and read.

Like the Ali comparison? Not even bothered to actually give facts or compare and then
give your opinion. You read, get a bit exasperated and jump in.

Hey, he lost to Tito, beat Whitaker for the 147 lb belt, Whitaker in a weight
out of his league, aged 33 and past peak and Oscar struggled.

Hey, that is why I never rated Oscar as a 147 lb fighter.

It doesn't seem to be sinking in that I actually rate
Oscar as a fine 130-140 lb fighter.

I simply cannot
get excited with his 147-160 lb career, nor can I get
excited with the last few fights.

I cannot get over the hype that surrounded the PBF fight, the performance
of BOTH in the bout and then the Forbes debacle, and the weird weird
novice like performance against Pac. This came after he was professing
to the world at how good he STILL was!

As far as I am concerned, his last decent win was against Vargas.
And that was just decent.

His big bouts, he lost. Moslely and Tito!

Next you will be telling us ODH shot JFK. I do not care when or how you rate dela hoya. I'm telling you that saying he retired in disgrace is erroneous.

Forbes debacle ? What are you talking about it was clear for all to see Oscar was on the tic tac diet for that fight and should never have fought at 150 never mind Pac at a lighter weight.

You keep going on about him saying he still had it?? So what this is boxing who doesnt say that. In fact most that do never had it in the first place.

walshb

Oasis44 wrote: »

What the de la hoya bashers seem to forget is the big fights he did lose were against the current (i.e. at the time he fought them) P4P kings.

He could have ducked these guys and fought fringe contenders to bump his record but he always fought the best. Taking on Hopkins was nuts but he did it because the fans wanted it and of course the pay day involved!

It is widely accepted that he did win the Trinidad and Mosley #2 fights but at the same time he really lost the Felix Strum fight and even admitted as much in his biography.

Yes his best years were pre 2002 but there is no denying the impact he has had on boxing - great role model and ambassador for the sport.

Just because someone questions and takes the time to study Oscar doesn't mean we are bashers. That seems to be the biggest problem here, anything negative, and folks get all exasperated and irritated, instead of simply debating and discussing.

Okay, the point that he fought all comers is noted and accepted and is a +
for Oscar. I don't believe anyone ever said it wasn't. He did fight some
greats.

Take the Tito fight? Yes, he fought the best 147 lb man and came up short.
But, that wasn't the real travesty. The real travesty was his lack of will and spirit
in the bout.

A real great would not be happy to run for 3 rds; a real great would seal
the deal and compete for the whole 12 rds. Oscar didn't and cannot
give credit just because he fought Tito.

Mosley in 2000 was a great fight and Oscar agian came up
second in a real close war. Credit deserved.

His willingness to meet HOP was brave and courageous. Again who
ever said he was not either of those?

Where has anyone ever said that Oscar at peak wasn't a very
good fighter?

I didn't!

I said that his latter career was IMO a con, a sham and not worthy of
merit. I also said his PERFORMANCE vs. Pac was a disgrace. It was!

I also said that the PBF fight was a con, a joke and never lived up
or deserved the hype. It was two men
fighting in a division that neither were great in for mega
bucks.

The Pac fight saw him face a feather
and saw him perform so so so bad. It
was thoroughly embarrassing

walshb

T-K-O wrote: »

Dela didn't con anyone he has a massive fan base and they would turn up tomorrow to watch him fight. But to Walsh these fans are being conned :rolleyes:.
Did it ever occur to you that people just like to watch him fight - the arenas would be pretty empty if everyone stopped going as soon as the fighter in question is on the slide.

You know, you're right, they weren't conned, they are just plain dumb!

The con is in the hype and claim that
this is boxing at its best. That's what I am saying.
See TKO, you need to slow down, you don't read
between the lines; too eager to jump in!

You will always have dumb and ignorant fans!

T-K-O

Stating someone has retire in disgrace is not asking questions or taking time to study. Get off your soap box.

walshb

T-K-O wrote: »

Stating someone has retire in disgrace is not asking questions or taking time to study. Get off your soap box.

Okay, just for you, his last few fights were a disgrace, his retirement/whole career was not!
You happy now?

T-K-O

walshb wrote: »

You know, you're right, they weren't conned, they are just plain dumb!

The con is in the hype and claim that
this is boxing at its best. That's what I am saying.
See TKO, you need to slow down, you don't read
between the lines; too eager to jump in!

You will always have dumb and ignorant fans!

Dumb for wanting to see one of their hero's. Cynics like you call it a con job, fans attend because they love the sport and want to see their idols.

But then again you've never even been to a pro event - I guess there isnt anybody worthy.

T-K-O

walshb wrote: »

Okay, just for you, his last few fights were a disgrace, his retirement/whole career was not!
You happy now?

Lack of backbone - stick to your guns for once.

walshb

T-K-O wrote: »

Lack of backbone - stick to your guns for once.

So much for placation!

walshb

T-K-O wrote: »

Dumb for wanting to see one of their hero's. Cynics like you call it a con job, fans attend because they love the sport and want to see their idols.

But then again you've never even been to a pro event - I guess there isnt anybody worthy.

Standards my friend, standards, some of us have them and some
of us don't!

Oh, and that is what TV was invented for!

T-K-O

walshb wrote: »

So much for placation!

Who needs it

T-K-O

walshb wrote: »

Standards my friend, standards, some of us have them and some
of us don't!

Oh, and that is what TV was invented for!

Your standards are not standards if they where you would apply them to Ali.

Oh and you are mistaking if you think TV was invented to produce hermits.

blackgold>>

lol you lads are funny

walshb

T-K-O wrote: »

Your standards are not standards if they where you would apply them to Ali.

Oh and you are mistaking if you think TV was invented to produce hermits.

Now, if ever I would go to see a man, it would be to see Ali.

There's been far far better nights in the stadium at the National
championships than what OLD Oscar has given us RECENTLY!

T-K-O

blackgold>> wrote: »

lol you lads are funny

This is going PPV very soon..... I'm going to con you all into paying :pac::pac::pac::pac::pac::pac::pac::pac:

T-K-O

walshb wrote: »

Now, if ever I would go to see a man, it would be to see Ali.

There's been far far better nights in the stadium at the National
championships than what OLD Oscar has given us RECENTLY!

I agree but don't generalise the fans that want to see Oscar - even if he is past his sell by.

walshb

T-K-O wrote: »

I agree but don't generalise the fans that want to see Oscar - even if he is past his sell by.

Here's an interesting thought:

Okay, going to see their idol is one thing; but paying for the boxing
is another. I think a distinction needs to be made. If those fans
are exiting and claiming that the action and quality was what
Oscar said it would be, then YES, those fans are dumb.
If they are simply there to SEE the man, then that's different.
BTW, to see them man and meet the man are two different
things. If I was asked to pay 500 dollars to be
in the same arena as Ali; I would think twice. But if I was guaranteed
to be up close and to possibly speak, then yes, that would be worth it.

See TKO, I really do analyse in detail don't I?

Like with Ali. I would pay to be just in his company, not necessarily
to see him fight. Hey, if he was to also fight, that would be a bonus.

Oscar was selling tickets on the promise that the
event would be top draw and that it was an event featuring
the best of the best. That's crap and that's all
I wanted to say. It was never that.

T-K-O

Its commonly know as promotion. While Oscar was clearly not at his best
PBF and Pac most certainly were.

walshb

T-K-O wrote: »

Its commonly know as promotion. While Oscar was clearly not at his best
PBF and Pac most certainly were.

Really? So, explain how PBF who was fighting in a division
at least two NORTH of his best was at his best. Bear
in mind that PBF looked very ordinary and ran for most
of the night and that had Oscar not pushed, there never would have
been a fight.

I don't see how anyone can claim that PBF was at his best.
I gave Oscar the verdict in that snore fest

PBFs best days were at 130-140.

T-K-O

Floyd and Pac were both l4l number 1.

Doubs

Real ding dong battle this one eh....

I'd be the first to admit I'm only an average fan of boxing, ask me to name Dela's last 5 fights & I wouldn't have a clue, however the man was a world champion multiple times and that has to be respected in my view. To read your comments walsh you'd swear any tom, dick, or harry could wade into boxing and pick up a world title, a world champion doesn't get to where they are without having talent, and despite what you say Dela could only beat what was in front of him at the end of the day.

As regards to promotion, from my time watching the sport every boxer that comes along thinks he's the best thing since sliced bread, is going to do this that and the other to their opponent, and in 50% of the cases don't do what they advertised. Should they also be labelled a disgrace?

Would you call Mike Tyson a disgrace? At the end of day I think a lot of your points are valid one's, but to label Dela a disgrace (the man, not his last 1/2 fights) is ridiculous.

spongeman

Im with the Mod on this one. Nobody can deny his promtional skills. Nobody.

However I keep getting that nagging feeling that if he did'nt have those promotional skills he would have not received the high profile fights later in his career.