Yessur, you've read the title correct. I've just learned that Oscar De La Hoya has chosen his next opponent. In a tune-up fight, to be featured for "free" on HBO, he will be fighting a natural lightweight (who's fought more than a few times at super featherweight): Steve "2 pounds" Forbes. While Stevie has fought a few pounds over the welterweight limit of 147 lbs a few times, he looked sluggish against lesser competition. Maybe this is payback for being robbed in his fight against Demetrius Hopkins (Bernard's nephew) almost a year ago? No matter, Forbes has no business fighting a world-class (if old) fighter at a catch weight of 150 lbs.
The one fight that comes to mind when I think of this match up is Arturo Gatti's fight against Joey Gamache in February of 2000. Gatti came in weighing 15 pounds more than Gamache (according to the HBO unofficial scales used in each fighter's dressing room) and knocked Gamache out in two rounds. The size disparity is probably what lead to such a brutal KO and caused Gamache to retire and never fight again (on the advise of doctors).
If I were Steve Forbes' manager (or friend for that matter), I'd advise him not to take this fight, on health concerns alone. The money just isn't worth it.
Oh, and in my humble opinion, Oscar should be ashamed of himself for even considering this fight. He's been known throughout his career for picking on smaller or older fighters and there are plenty of welterweights out there that he could fight with not much risk. Here's a short list:
Luis Collazo 28(13)-3
Frederic Klose 41(8)-6
Chris "The Mechanic" Smith 21(13)-4
Joel Julio 32(30)-1
So, Oscar, please fight a real welterweight and leave the smaller fighters alone, for once!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment