Patience is a virtue
By Kishan Nundloll - 07/05/07
The build up for this mega money fight, was aptly named the world awaits and in the early hours of Sunday morning, the world was treated something very special, from two of boxings biggest stars. The fight lived up to all the hype around it and all the trash talking, money, and promotion couldn’t have served up any better of a fight. Both men looking in fantastic shape and focused, each knowing a victory would make history. The arena star studded and the fight glittering, from the minute Micheal Buffer asked ‘if we were ready to rumble’, the atmosphere and the arena became awash with screams.
De la Hoya had the better of the early rounds, letting fly some tremendous body shots, but unable to really connect with anything that would showcase his strength. Mayweather was finding it hard, to come to terms with the hand speed and strength, but he did use his counter punching to effect, landing to cleaner blows in most of the rounds. De la Hoya was the aggressor, a tactic to be expected by any fighter trained by Freddie Roach, and it looked as though De la Hoya was going to boss the fight only for Mayweather to connect with a ferocious right in the fifth, leaving de la Hoya shaking, knees bending and praying for the bell. De la Hoya steadied himself and made the middle section of the fight his, with the more aggressive punches, and looking the busier man, during rounds, but his workload starting to decease and his stamina become in an issue
The last three rounds saw Mayweather start to impose himself, and started to land the cleaner punches, shades of Ali vs. Foreman, and the patience shown in early rounds was now paying off. The last round was greeted by a standing ovation by everyone from the first row all the way to the back. The round began cagey both men knowing the importance of this round. On my card I had the fight level and it coming down to the twelfth and final round to decide who won. Mayweather was faster and his combinations were starting to have the effect he wanted in earlier rounds. De la Hoya hadn’t shown anything in the tenth or eleventh round, it was to be expected, the pace of the fight and the opponent both rapid, but Oscar came to fight and in the last ninety seconds of the twelfth started to show glimpses of his pace and strength providing a grandstand finish. The fight ending with both men punching after the bell, and the referee having to intervene.
The fight was going to go to the cards, and when in Vegas, its common knowledge that anything can happen when fights go to the cards. Micheal Buffer announcing a split decision and slowly reading the cards and finally announcing ‘and new’, from then on a chorus of boo’s and jeers came from the very Pro-Mexican crowd. Mayweather taking the fight 116-112 and 115-113 on two of the scorecards, with de la Hoya taking the other 115-113. A debatable decision and one that isn’t unfair, but I had scored the fight to de la Hoya by one. No need for an investigation, as whoever won would have derived it. Both men giving everything, and in the eyes of the judges Mayweather just edging it . A draw may have been the right result.
The future is still uncertain for the Golden boy, who wants to sit down and ponder what lies next for him. A stark contrast to the ambition of Floyd Mayweather, who now feels vindicated and wants to retire with an unbeaten 38-fight record, and as five-weight world champion, something very special. Through out the post fight interviews, Mayweather talked of his belief and faith in himself and his corner and getting the respect he deserves as a fighter and a man. Now feeling truly vindicated, he feels there is nothing left for him to prove in the sport, citing family and his kids as the reason he will walk away from the sport, arguably in his prime and when he’s most marketable.
Without question the fight lived up to all expectations, and in my opinion surpassed them. The decision to award Mayweather the fight questionable but not suspect, both men giving fantastic accounts of themselves. The irony now is the fighter expected to retire may carry on and the fighter who should and can only move onto big and better things is calling it a day. Boxing is a passionate and emotional sport with tremendous characters, and fighters, two of which gave the audience awaiting the fight of their lives, not disappointing on any fronts. Twodice wish both men every success in the future, we would be much happier if they announce they wanted to go at it one more time, that would be special, but if they don’t the memory of this fight will last in the minds of fans for a long time to come. The sport of boxing the real winner of the night.