| neverlearn |
09-17-2004 12:42 PM |
Let's go to the transcripts:
Oscar De La Hoya, WBO Middleweight champion - from his camp in Big Bear, CA:
"It's all talk. Look at Vargas...it's all talk. That don't bother me. (Hopkins) talks about being in prison for three years and all that street stuff. And he thinks that's going to intimidate me. But he's wrong. He's not going to win any battles before we get in the ring. That stuff has never bothered me, so let him talk.
Hopkins is a bully. That's his style of fighting. He's a bully in the ring. That's how I view him. I want to go in there and stop him. A bully can be stopped. You just have to be in great shape and have a good gameplan."
( Trainer Floyd Mayweather actually was willing to reveal the De La Hoya strategy..."Oscar is going to move on Hopkins but he's going to stick that jab in his face the whole time. And he's going to stop, set his feet, get off with combinations, then get out of there before going back to his jab." - Do you find it a display of supreme confidence that Oscar would allow Mayweather to share this info? Or is it foolish? Or is it a deception? )
Oscar continued: I'm no William Joppy. I'm not a fighter like Joppy or whatever his name was (Antwun Echols). Everything about me is different from every fighter Hopkins has ever faced."
On possibly even KOing Hopkins: "You never know. A strong hook, a good right, if it's set up right and it lands clean, you can put anyone down. You can't count out a knockout win, even against Hopkins."
Summary: Oscar sounds as strong and as confident as he can right now. He is not coming to lose, like most expect is his fate. And Oscar's intelligent statements kind of affirm and make you realize that this is Oscar De La Hoya speaking, one of the most successful, most determined and proud champions in history. He was born to be a fighter and is truly one of the greats. And a very decisive factor in this Fight of the Century is that Oscar is by far a much more mentally stronger fighter than any Hopkins has defeated lately. Joppy, Allen and Echols sort of surrendered to Hopkins. They were just outclassed, ran out of ideas and basically stopped trying. You have to know that Oscar is a far different animal. Though many experts believe Hopkins can and will physically punish and slaughter Oscar, maybe just maybe the surprising reality is that he won't. Maybe Oscar is just too smart and saavy than he's given credit for. Maybe it is impossible for another man to physically destroy Oscar De La Hoya as many people predict.
Bernard Hopkins, WBC/IBF/WBA Middleweight champion - from his camp in Miami:
"The key to this fight is not going to be power. It is going to be one word...and that one word is 'speed.'
It is hard to find a villain in this match. De La Hoya has never dissed another fighter. He has a laid-back Golden Boy style. Look at the Vargas fight...Vargas said he was not a true Mexican. But then in the ring, Oscar showed he was what he was said not to be.
He is not a knockout puncher. I have a great chin and I can close the fight at any time.
De La Hoya is anticipating on living, not on winning. If he wants to live, he will be in shape to run, to run, and to run.
De La Hoya will be committing suicide to fight me the way he fought Felx Sturm in June. He underestimated Sturm was a blueprint for me not to train...but I will not fall into that trap on September 18th. Oscar De La Hoya will be my 19th victim...Oscar, you are loco for fighting me."
Summary: Hopkins also sounds pinpoint sharp as he always does. Both gladiators are primed and will be 100% perfectly ready for this classic confrontation which should become the biggest money non-heavyweight fight in boxing history (to eclipse Oscar vs. Tito). This could be the breakout event for one of the most fascinating and inspirational sports figures, this could be the unveiling and creation of a new, transcending superstar. Bernard Hopkins absolutely has that kind of charismatic potential to become a future George Foreman type personality and it might all begin for Bernard next month. All Hopkins has to do is win decisively over Oscar and the world will be his oyster. But it is not going to be easy. Oscar, with his tremendous pride and experience, is going to put up a huge fight. And it is not out of the realm that he may present challenges to Hopkins which he has never had to deal with before. What if Hopkins becomes confused and frustrated? What if he has lost just that small iota of reflexes?
Will the formidable threat of Hopkins force De La Hoya to reveal something extra that we've never seen from him before? Will Hopkins bring out a greatness in Oscar that we've never witnessed yet? How will Hopkins react if he runs into difficulties - as he's not really dealt with that much adversity in his recent fights?
These questions are only a small part of why September 18th is going to be such a thrilling spectacle of athletic competition between two living legends.
Scoop Malinowski is a Boxinginsider.com contributor.:321GFY
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