Friday, March 07, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

MAYWEATHER WANTS DE LA HOYA: Challenge issued to Oscar

Mayweather would give up 19 pounds in fight, but says that won't be a problem

By KEVIN IOLE
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Oscar De La Hoya 35-2 Floyd Mayweather 29-0

If Floyd Mayweather Jr. gets his way, the WBC lightweight champion will fight WBA/WBC super welterweight champion Oscar De La Hoya in September.

Mayweather, who will defend his lightweight title April 19 in Fresno, Calif., against Raul Balbi, said Thursday he wants to replace Shane Mosley as De La Hoya's opponent Sept. 13. De La Hoya and Mosley have been involved in protracted negotiations and, despite a $500,000 concession by De La Hoya, the sides haven't been able to get together.

Mayweather has long spoken of his desire to fight De La Hoya and said he has no concern despite the 19-pound weight differential. Mayweather said he has spoken to Top Rank president Bob Arum, who enthusiastically supports the idea.

The lightweight limit is 135 pounds, and Mayweather has fought at that level only twice. He won the championship from Jose Luis Castillo on April 20, then successfully defended it against Castillo on Dec. 7. Mayweather said he would weigh between 145 and 150 to fight De La Hoya after going through a program to add muscle under the direction of strength coach Leonard Ellerbee.

"This is a fight that boxing really needs, and it would blow the roof off all the pay-per-view numbers," said Mayweather, 29-0 with 20 knockouts. "A true champion will step up and take these kinds of fights. I don't want to fight guys everyone knows I can beat; I want the guys people think might beat me.

"This fight with Oscar would be the ultimate. Why not? I want to go to another level in my career and this is a way to do that."

De La Hoya, 35-2 with 28 knockouts, was in Miami on Thursday and could not be reached for comment. But Richard Schaefer, the chief executive officer of De La Hoya's Golden Boy Enterprises, doused Mayweather's enthusiasm by saying the fight doesn't make sense.

Schaefer said he doesn't see how De La Hoya will benefit from the match.

"This is an attempt by Mayweather to get much-needed publicity," Schaefer said. "Throwing out Oscar's name will get that for him. What does Oscar have to gain by taking this fight? Knocking out a guy who is 20, 25 pounds lighter won't do much for him.

"Oscar has already outlined the fights he's interested in. There is always another name popping up, but I don't see how Mayweather can do anything for Oscar. I don't think it's a good reason just because of money, and there are other fights out there where Oscar could make more than he will for fighting Mayweather."

But Arum said the fight is the biggest potential bout in boxing other than a heavyweight matchup between Roy Jones Jr. and Mike Tyson.

Arum said he hasn't spoken to Schaefer but would pitch the fight to him next week.

Arum said De La Hoya is getting closer to finalizing a deal with Mosley, so Arum said a potential De La Hoya-Mayweather fight would have to wait until next year.

Arum said the presence of Mayweather's father, trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr., in De La Hoya's corner would further stoke the interest in the bout.

"The drama is so unbelievable in this fight, it will be incredible," Arum said. "Floyd is a kid who has really resented Oscar, and his father will be in Oscar's corner. It's unbelievable. They'll be writing books about this fight."

Ellerbee said size won't be an issue. He said Mayweather is already strong for a lightweight.

Ellerbee said Mayweather spars with super welterweights and middleweights because he's too strong for lightweights.

"Is the guy willing to step up and say, `Hey, I think I'm better than you and here's why?' " Ellerbee said of De La Hoya. "A lot of people might think this is a joke, but Floyd has talked about it for a long time. Floyd will be there ready to beat this guy.

"Oscar is a great fighter, don't get me wrong. But he's not going to be the most skilled guy in this fight. He's been matched with the right opponents at the right time. This is a challenge for Floyd, and Floyd is always at his best when he's challenged."