Billy’s Boxing Blog

 

The interview starts as Oscar spoke about the failed attempt to get Mayweather and Pacquiao in the ring in March:

Oscar De La Hoya: I am sure people were very disappointed that the fight wasn’t made…we tasted the waters of how big this fight could be. Will this fight happen? ABSOLUTELY! It has to happen, no doubt about it. It’s too big not to happen. We didn’t make the fight for one single reason, and I think we all know what that reason is. But I am very confident it can be made in the near future because…it’s not that boxing needs it, it’s that boxing wants it!

Question: Will you ask Mayweather to drop his demand about Olympic style drug testing?

ODLH: No! Not at all!

Question: Do you think if you keep the demand the fight will happen?

ODLH: I think it has to happen. Because I think what is happening in boxing is people are starting to open their eyes and realize, “Wow, you have two fighters who want to bash each others brains and if one fighter is on something it could be devastating!”  It could even be mortal to a fighter inside that ring so I think what happened is a positive because, I will tell you one thing, it should be mandatory that fighters go through these tests to make sure that they are clean because it’s our life up in the ring and we can’t risk the fact that you are on something. Even if it’s because you drank 10 coffees your performance elevates that much and we cant risk that, we can’t risk anything. This is what we have to look forward to, the world has to wake up and smell the coffee, this is our life.

Question: Are you talking about Championships or all fights?

ODLH: Obviously, eventually we would want it for all fights, but you have to start somewhere and show the world that this is something that has to happen. I think it was the perfect opportunity for Mayweather and Pacquiao to be at the forefront of all that but unfortunately it didn’t happen.

Question: What can you tell us about the talks with Mayweather and Mosley?

ODLH: Oh, it’s going great actually. The fight is in negotiations and various camps are working extremely hard to make this fight happen. Obviously we have May 1^st lined up. It’s all about getting a yes from Mayweather and a yes from Mosley . Tha’t the Super Fight that takes boxing to another level because now you are talking about two All-American fighters who are really going to transcend the sport and take it to another level.

Question: Do  you expect that Mayweather will want Mosley to take the same type of drug tests?

ODLH: I believe that Mosley will raise his hand and say, “Take me to the laboratory!”  That’s what Mosley is going to do and I am going to be the first one to applaud him.  Obviously Mosley has nothing to hide and Mayweather wants to make sure he is not on anything for this event, and I call it an event because it is an awesome fight.

Question: Who do you think will win?

ODLH: I have no idea! I have no idea because Mayweather’s style is difficult but I saw Mosley train 2 weeks ago up in Big Bear and he looked in amazing shape. If there is one guy who can beat Mayweather it’s Mosley and if there is one guy who can beat Mosley it’s Mayweather so it’s going to be one of those fights. It really is a Hagler vs. Hearns  or a Sugar Ray against Hearns.

Question:  After that fight do you think Mayweather vs. Paqcuaio will happen?

ODLH: It has to. It’s a big enough fight for the public to demand it. It has to happen, there is no way it can’t happen. We just have to cross one hurdle, that’s it, one hurdle, and that is Manny taking the test.

Question: So what will change between now and the end of the year?

ODLH: Well hopefully the public will make him change his mind? I mean, why would you not want to earn 40 million dollars. Why would you not want to show the public and end the speculation? Why not show them so you can say, “Hey, what are you talking about? I am a clean athlete!”

Question: Do you think people will still want the fight if Mosley beats Mayweather?

ODLH: I think so because now you are talking about like back in the ‘80’s …Sugar Ray, Hagler, Hearns, Duran, they were all in the mix. If Mosley beats Mayweather then your’e in the mix to have fights amongst those 3 fighters. But obviously first things first for Mayweather and he is going to fight the best no matter what.

Question: So how close is Mayweather vs. Mosley…really?

ODLH: Well that’s negotiations with Richard(Schaefer) and Mayweather’s people, but I have to tell you that negotiations are not too far away. Is that fight going to happen? I am very confident that it will!

Question: Oscar one last thing about the drug testing, and I understand what you are saying, but there is the other side of the coin that says why should I have to do this testing, I have never failed any drug tests in the past? As a former fighter do you understand that stand?

ODLH: Well I do but I don’t because I know where Mayweather is coming from with this. Obviously to show the world that these fighters are clean fighters, that’s point A. But this was the perfect stage to show the world these fighters are willing to take the drug tests because in today’s world, you talk about any sport and you know what’s happening out there…all these athletes are taking steroids! So let’s be in the positive with boxing, let’s stand up and say, “Hey, were clean! We have nothing to hide!

This is not like we are running sprints, we are to fighters in the ring bashing on each other heads in and if you are on something it can be deadly!

Question: Who do you propose is going to pay for these tests?

ODLH: That’s obviously a hurdle we have to go through. It’s a matter of figuring it out. But it’s the promoters who are on the forefront of it, asking for it…it’s a positive change for the sport.

Question: Speaking of cheating, what’s your opinion of Margarito probably getting his license to fight in Texas on March 13^th?

ODLH: I am actually disgusted! I am disgusted with the fact that they are going over California and weasling their way in through Texas to get a license. I am very disgusted by it because I just finished watching a documentary on HBO where……whatever type of cheating you are doing is wrong because you are messing with somebody’s life, and when you are messing with somebody’s life in that ring then you should be banned for life, that’s my opinion.

Question: So he shouldn’t get his license back?

ODLH: I think he shouldn’t because again, you are messing with somebody’s life and that’s just wrong!

Question: What documentary was it?

ODLH: It was on HBO…Luis Resto..yes, yes.

Question: That said then, do you think Shane should have been banned?

ODLH: With Shane, he came forward and we talked about it and he said yes , but when he said he didn’t know at the time whether he took it or not I believe him.  But in that second fight did he fell different to me? He did! I was lucky enough to have enough talent to stay away from him and not get hit by him. With Shane, he said “Yes I did it but this Conti guy is a bad guy!”  But when you are loading your hands and throwing punches…it’s a different level!

Question: Do you believe him (Margarito) when he says he didn’t know about the plaster?

ODLH: I don’t know? Only he knows.

Question: They say a fighter knows what’s going on his hands when they are getting wrapped, what do you say?

ODLH: These are your hands and these are your weapons. If your trainer puts one more wrap on than normal you are going to know it. If Margarito were to come out clean and say. “Look, I did this and I am sorry,” then that’s a different story because he is admitting it and that’s fine. But admit it, come clean, than at least the commission will have that…you know?

Question: Don’t you think he should have come to California to get reinstated?

ODLH: Yes, that’s (going to Texas) wrong.

Question: He claims he didn’t get treated fairly by California the first time and that’s why he went to Texas.

ODLH:  FAIRLY?? If you were getting ready to go load up your hands and possibly, you never know, kill somebody, if I was the commission I would be the one that is very angry! VERY ANGRY! In boxing you never know, this is a tough sport to begin with, and then you have loaded hands? You don’t know what is going to happen. But at least come clean with it…come clean with it! Be a man and stand up and come clean with it.

Question: If he came clean with it would you be more willing to see him step into the ring?

ODLH: Yes! Because now you’re humbling him! Now you’re making him admit, “OK, I did wrong!” But in his mind he is thinking, “I didn’t do nothing wrong! Why should I apologize?” I mean he had loaded hands and he is not admitting it? It’s the wrong thing to do! It’s a matter of admitting it, that you did wrong, then we can take it from there!

 

 

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 at 4:25 am and is filed under Boxing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.