Tuesday, March 02, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

NO DIFFERENCE OF OPINION: Hopkins gets Winky's nod

Foes Wright, Mosley say challenger's size, power will be too much for De La Hoya

By KEVIN IOLE
REVIEW-JOURNAL

If they win preliminary bouts June 5, Oscar De La Hoya, above, and Bernard Hopkins, below, will square off for the middleweight title Sept. 18 at the MGM Grand. Hopkins will have the edge, according to super welterweight foes Winky Wright and Shane Mosley. REVIEW-JOURNAL FILE PHOTO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Though Winky Wright and Shane Mosley will fight each other for the undisputed super welterweight title March 13, they agree on one point: Bernard Hopkins should beat Oscar De La Hoya for the middleweight title in September.

Mosley has beaten De La Hoya twice, but hasn't fought Hopkins. Wright hasn't fought either of the two, but he believes Hopkins will dominate De La Hoya when they meet Sept. 18 at the MGM Grand.

That bout will take place only if De La Hoya and Hopkins win preliminaries June 5. Wright said if De La Hoya gets past Felix Sturm in June, he'll be in for a beating from Hopkins.

"That fight with Bernard and Oscar, man, if Oscar was scared of me, he's really picked the wrong fight," said Wright, who has arrived in Las Vegas to finish training for next week's bout with Mosley at Mandalay Bay.

"I think Bernard will be way too strong for Oscar. It should be real easy for him. Oscar can box, yes, but Bernard is a rugged, tough fighter who knows all the tricks. He can box. He's going to be too big and too strong for Oscar."

Mosley's opinion isn't as strong as Wright's, but said his gut feeling is Hopkins will win. Mosley, who scored a hotly debated unanimous decision over De La Hoya last September, said Hopkins ought not take De La Hoya lightly.

However, Mosley said Hopkins' size and strength will probably be the difference. De La Hoya weighed only 131 in his professional debut, while Hopkins weighed 177 in his. Hopkins has fought his entire career at middleweight or heavier, while De La Hoya has had just four fights above welterweight.

"Oscar will have to use his speed and his trademark punch, his left hook," Mosley said Monday from his training camp in Big Bear Lake, Calif. "Bernard, I'm sure, won't underestimate De La Hoya because it would be a mistake if he did. He can't go in there and think he can do whatever because he's bigger and stronger. But I think that Bernard is strong enough to take care of him."

In the meantime, Hopkins' June 5 preliminary bout is not set because opponent Robert Allen is balking. Top Rank president Bob Arum said Saturday that Allen had agreed to terms, but Arum claimed Monday that rival promoter Don King had convinced Allen to hold out for more money.

Because Allen is the mandatory challenger for Hopkins' IBF title, his failure to sign has prompted a purse bid today, open to all promoters. The rights would go to the highest bidder, with Hopkins to receive 75 percent of the purse and Allen 25 percent.

Arum said even if King wins the purse bid, De La Hoya-Sturm will go off as scheduled June 5 and that Hopkins would likely defend his title earlier. The other option would be for Hopkins to give up the IBF belt and fight a different opponent June 5.

"I've had four agreements with Allen's people at different times, but then the kid keeps backing out," Arum said. "King has gotten into his ear and the trainer's ear.

"But that's OK. If King wants to bid an enormous amount of money and put the fight on, that would be great for us. He'd be promoting our fight for us. It would be great publicity for us."

Phone messages seeking comment from King were not returned Monday.