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Oscar de la Hoya has his promoter's hat on tight. After spending weeks telling us all that Juan Manuel Marquez was going to beat Floyd Mayweather Jr., he's mapping out other strategies now for two of his biggest fighters (Marquez and Shane Mosley) and two guys he helps promote (Mayweather and Ricky Hatton), and trying to rain on the parade of a guy he doesn't promote (Manny Pacquiao).
Oscar gave BoxingScene.com's Luis Sandoval tons of quotes about future fights for everyone involved.
"This is coming from Marquez. If Mayweather fights Pacquiao -- c'mon. We all know what's going to happen. Mayweather is just too slick. He'll pick him apart. And that's coming from Marquez. And Marquez knows, he's been in there with Pacquiao."
I like "This is coming from Marquez." You know who else has been in there with Pacquiao and Mayweather? Oscar de la Hoya. Is it possible that he thinks Mayweather is too slick for Pacquiao? It's not an alien thought, really. Lots of people think the style matchup is awful for Pacquiao. I'm sure Marquez probably thinks this, too, considering he fought close with Pacquiao and was obliterated by Mayweather. I do love that Oscar spent a long time trying to sell people on the idea that Marquez had a great shot against Mayweather, but now Pacquiao doesn't have a shot. In fact, it's not even worth doing. Why even bother?
"Mosley and Mayweather is the fight that has to be made, because that will be the all-American showdown. It will be a tremendous, tremendous fight. It's going to be difficult to dethrone Mayweather, but the one guy I think can do it sprinkles 'sugar' all over everybody."
Look, first of all, that final line is just horrible. Never say that again, Oscar. Horrible. In fact it's so awful I'd rather just move on.
"We'll have to see what Marquez and Hatton want to do. Marquez has no problem traveling to Manchester to challenge Ricky Hatton. It will be a great fight. It will be one of those fights where whoever the winner is, is back. Back with a vengeance. Back on top of the world and can go on fighting bigger fights and being on bigger events."
Works for me. He also does mention Michael Katsidis, which is a fight that might almost mirror Marquez-Hatton, except with a smaller name and less money involved.