Mayweather will stop De La Hoya, as the ‘villain’ has the hunger

In the somewhat oppressive buildup to the Oscar De La Hoya – Floyd Mayweather Jr. matchup on Saturday, so much of the focus has been on Mayweather’s outlandish behavior. The small fighter has played the role of villain to De La Hoya’s “good guy” to the point of annoyance, though you can’t fault him for not putting enough into the promotion.

As happens in these types of events, the promotional aspects tend to overshadow the realities of the fight. And the simple reality is this – Mayweather is too fast, too good and too smart to lose to De La Hoya. In this battle of young lion versus old warhouse (in boxing standards) the size difference will be rendered meaningless. It didn’t help Sugar Ray Leonard years ago against Terry Norris, and it won’t help De La Hoya Saturday.

And one other thing that has been glossed over – the last big fight De La Hoya was in, he was stopped by a body shot. Bernard Hopkins put him away with a right to the body. When does that happen in a fight of that magnitude?

Am I putting too much stock in this? Perhaps, but quick, name one elite boxer that’s been knocked out by a body shot. One other than Oscar De La Hoya.

To me, that speaks of a hunger issue. And if Oscar wasn’t hungry – or fast – enough to beat Hopkins, then Mayweather is going to bombard him.

And he will. Look for Mayweather to dominate and stop De La Hoya by round nine.

–WKW