Oscar-Manny off the table; Pacquiao-Soto, Oscar-Mora move forward

by SC on Aug 14, 2008 12:17 PM EDT

As talks have died for a fight between Oscar de la Hoya and Manny Pacquiao on December 6, things are moving forward for a Pacquiao 135-pound title defense against Humberto Soto, and Oscar is moving on and trying to secure a bout with 154-pound titleholder Sergio Mora.

Pacquiao-Soto has been a desired fight for a while, just because it'll be a good scrap. But Oscar-Mora? It's a battle of Los Angeles -- which they should REALLY do in Los Angeles and not in Vegas, but then you'd think they'd have done Judah-Clottey in NYC. It would, hopefully, be for a title (Mora defends against Vernon Forrest on September 13).

On paper, it might not be the most exciting fight, but it does appear to be competitive. Mora's awkward style is going to be tough for anyone at 154, even though his lack of punching power hurt him at 160, I thought. Oscar is still good, but I do think Mora can beat him.

If the fight comes off -- and it hinges on Mora beating Forrest again, no easy task -- then Oscar will be the big betting favorite. At his age, could be a sucker's bet. It's sort of like Oscar-Forbes, except Mora's a lot bigger than Forbes.

Oscar sure has seen his alleged final fight go downhill, though, and I don't mean that as disrespect to Mora. It's gone from Mayweather to Cotto to Pacquiao and now Mora, and I don't even think Sergio would tell you he's as big a star as the other guys.

I do like that Mora's gained a sense of humor, or is at least sharing one now:

Mora said that he was excited about the prospect of fighting De La Hoya, 35, and would not let it get away from him. He had been skewered by critics for once rejecting a nearly $1 million offer to challenge then-middleweight champion Jermain Taylor because he was uncomfortable with the fight taking place in Memphis, Tenn., which isn't far from Taylor's Little Rock, Ark., hometown.
Mora, 27, said that would not happen this time.

"I'm taking this fight. If I don't take this fight, I'll start my own Web site and cuss myself out," he said with a laugh.

BLH user Option27 already theorized in the FanPosts that Oscar might just want to go out with a title. I think that is part of it. I think the other part is Mora looks like he's legitimately the biggest star out there...that Oscar is willing to tangle with.

This probably officially green-lights Margarito-Clottey II, as well. All in all, things could be worse.

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And then there is...

…The, “what if?” question.

What if Forrest beats Mora this time around? Then what? DLH-Judah? Seriously, might as well just make the Margarito-DLH fight happen either way it’s a bit of a win win for him. After all is all about money, I doubt it’s for the love of the sport.

Missing: Have you seen this guy?
Ronald Wright. other wise known as Winky Wright
5′ 10½″
Middleweight
Southpaw
Last seen: Puerto Rico 1 month ago – Cotto’s training camp

"I'm sure he'll be watching. I'm sure he wants to see who will win the fight and how real fighters fight." -Antonio Margarito on Mayweather

by CRAZEDANG1280 on Aug 14, 2008 1:04 PM EDT 0 recs

In my wildest dreams

Winky would finally get his due.

But after calling De La Hoya out now for about a year, I think Oscar is past people calling him out.

Margarito is another example.

After the Floyd talks fell through, it’s clear that he wants to choose his opponent wisely.

Wisely meaning he doesn’t look too bad in his grand finale.

by Option27 on Aug 14, 2008 1:37 PM EDT up 0 recs

Mora is Mexican

I thought he wasn’t going to fight a Mexican. Or maybe it’s just a Mexican citizen. But what if they are a Mexican citizen but they now reside in the US? What if they were born in the US, but they now live in Mexico? Or do they have to have been born in Mexico too? DLH is just confusing when he says he wont fight a Mexican.

by erod on Aug 14, 2008 2:07 PM EDT 0 recs

He’s full of shit that he won’t fight a Mexican. He won’t fight Margarito because Margarito is too strong for him. It’d be nice if he’d just say it. Who would really lose respect for him? “I’m not lookin’ to get, like, mangled or embarrassed…”

Just like he wouldn’t fight a Puerto Rican because Millie is Puerto Rican, but he would’ve fought Cotto.

"Yesterday I was lying, today I am telling the truth." -- Bob Arum

Camden Chat
Bad Left Hook

by SC on Aug 14, 2008 2:59 PM EDT up 0 recs

It's all about the draw

I think Oscar thinks he will be able to draw more money with Mora, which is fine, but is probably going to be hard with only a 2 month build. There are lots of back stories they can tell. But with the hardcore audience, I don’t think it’s a fight they want to see.

Can they sell that fight to a casual audience? Mora’s Contender face time was a couple of years ago, but he still had the face time.

It’s interesting, only because everything else has failed for DLH.

by roheblius on Aug 14, 2008 2:27 PM EDT 0 recs

Mora's win over Forrest made a few headlines

I think ODLH-Mora is a fight you can sell. Not the numbers that Oscar probably would have liked for his December fight, but it’ll sell.

"Yesterday I was lying, today I am telling the truth." -- Bob Arum

Camden Chat
Bad Left Hook

by SC on Aug 14, 2008 2:59 PM EDT up 0 recs

There isn't a good fight for the hardcore audience

Any fight that is for the hardcore audience, Oscar gets whupped. Oscar rightfully doesn’t want to end his career on a losing streak, and as good as he’s been (and as little as he’s ducked other great fighters), he has the perogative to pick and choose who he wants to fight in his farewell match.

I still think Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in Azteca Stadium makes more sense than Mora, and would probably be a more exciting fight as well (for as long as it lasted), but I can see why Hoya wouldn’t want to deal with Bob Arum.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Aug 14, 2008 4:56 PM EDT up 0 recs