Floyd Mayweather Jr. will enter the ring at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on September 14th with a 44-0-0 record that includes 27 knockouts. So pardon him if the latest round of scare tactics from Oscar De La Hoya don't spook him.
Golden Boy Promotions is touting Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (42-0-1, 30 KO) as the man to finally knock "Money" Mayweather off his undefeated perch and usurp the crown as boxing's top draw. In the process of doing that, De La Hoya also criticized the last fighter he put in front of Mayweather, Robert Guerrero.
In an interview with BoxingScene.com, De La Hoya essentially said Guerrero was an easy mark for Floyd.
"I was impressed with his footwork against Guerrero, but then again he fought Guerrero. But Guerrero fought the wrong fight with no game plan and that's the truth. Guerrero is one of the best fighters that I've seen in the last few years but he fought with the wrong game plan. And that's what I mean when I say 'he fought Guerrero' - a flat-footed Guerrero. Anybody could have outboxed Guerrero that night. But I know why he looked good, because Floyd Sr. was back in his corner and Floyd Sr. makes him work hard and get in great shape," De La Hoya said.
He then concluded, "But being in great shape and working out is not going to help you out against Canelo, who is young and strong and fast and in the fight of his life."
Of all the fighters Mayweather has taken on since his ascension to boxing's pound-for-pound throne in 2007, Alvarez does indeed appear to pose the biggest threat to his spotless record. Alvarez possesses thunderous power, having knocked down respected veteran Austin Trout for the first time in his career a few months ago.
Alvarez also has quick hands for a power puncher, and relies on accurate combinations to inflict damage, utilizing both head shots and body punching. So while De La Hoya is well within his rights to promote Alvarez as a legitimate challenger to Floyd Mayweather Jr., he should try and do so without disparaging his last opponent, a man sill in the Golden Boy stable.
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