Mayweather – De La Hoya Fight Review

Here is a complete review of the fight, written live during the fight by the Boxing Daily Team…

Well its coming up to the fight, we are literally minutes away. Everyone here is basically trembling with excitement, and everyone is getting last minute snacks and going to the toilet before the fight starts, NOBODY wants to miss a second of the upcoming fight.
Over fifty thousand boxing fans like us having paid £25 each to watch this fight in casinos and hotels on the strip in the fabulous Las Vegas, the Fight of the Year, that’s £1,250,000 in pay per view revenues….Let’s Hope that this fight can live up to its hype!

Okay now both fighters are all bandaged up, ready for action. Both look pensive, the trash talking is over now as both realise what a challenge is up in front of them. The fight has been delayed slightly as the previous bout on the undercard has ended later that expected…so we all all still waiting in suspense, The World Awaits!

7000 at the weigh in DLH cheered Mayweather booed DLH has generated half a billion in his career probably 3/4 of crown pro DLH who will this help?

A vast array of famous celebrities and great fighters are ringside, this is a “Fight for the Fighters” as well as for boxing fans all over the world, with the fight being shown in 176 countries and being beaten only by this years superbowl in term of tickets.

The names of the fighters are now being announced, Mayweather getting booed but a really tremendous cheer for the peoples favourite, Oscar De La Hoya.

The National anthems of Mexico and USA are sung despite them both being American, De La Hoya is very proud of his Mexican heritage and so insisted that the Mexican anthem was sung.

Floyd Mayweather comes into 50 Cent’s now song “Straight to the Bank” and he is flooded with boos from left right and centre, he is definitely the Bad Guy as he is hugged by 50 once inside the ring.

Oscar De La Hoya enters in a shimmery red gown and the crowd goes absolutely crazy, despite this, De La Hoya is not smiling, he is tense and concentrated, totally focused on the task ahead.

“This is the moment the world has been waiting for…LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE!!!”

Round 1: Mayweather throws first punch of the fight, a left hook. Mayweather is winning on speed, handing a right hand, the taking one himself, left hooks are exchanged, the fight is well under way. DLH is reddening above the eye already after a few stiff jabs from the Pretty Boy. Mayweather is getting through with his punch but they are not hurting De La Hoya. The fight ends with a Mayweather win, making a very confident start, with the blistering speed of Mayweather being the difference between the two fighters.

Round 2: De La Hoya opens up and land a left hook, buy Mayweather is on the ropes defending well, making De La Hoya miss, until DLH lands a left hook, the best punch of the fight so far. DLH land a big right hand and is coming into the fight a bit more, working behind the jab. Floyd is landed jabs and a left uppercut whilst DLH lands a punch to the body. Both get a bit messy in the middle with elbow and heads but having lost the first round De La Hoya looked a lot more aggressive and urgent and the better fighter.

Round 3: A good right hand from Mayweather, but De La Hoya returns pushing Mayweather on to the ropes and his defensive skills are falling apart, and DLH is landed heavy blows. Mayweather jabs and moves, DLH comes forward with jabs and they exchange jabs to and fro for a while. A right hand over the low left hand guard of DLH is a great shot by the Pretty Boy as both fighters are very keen to get on with the fight and its been all action so far. Mayweather has gained more confidence in this round, looking more like he did in the first round. Its a very close round.

Round 4: A stiff jab from DLG and then a big left hook and Mayweather is on the ropes, but he responds with a big left hook. Coming away from a clinch DLH land a left hook, then a right hand. DLH misses with his punches as Floyd ducks and dives, DLH is pounding punches (not many landing) on to Mayweather in corner must he comes out the corner with a quick two punch combination. Mayweather walks back to the corner with a smile, this round is again very close. Now Floyd needs to hit and move, he is making it hard for himself at the moment.

Round 5: They stand to to toe and Mayweather lands a big right hand and then more left hooks come in from De La Hoya. DLH gets through with a right hand but responds with his own right hand. Mayweather continues to flick out the jab on the chin followed by a two big right hands and De La Hoya is shaken, the punch of the fight. But DLH fights back with a big right hand, then it turns again as Mayweather lands two big right hands and he is hurt. Mayweather boxes beautifully and wins the best round of the fight so far.

Round 6: A great right uppercut from Floyd and sets ups some punches with the jab. DLH works away on Mayweather who is on the rope, but this is using DLH energy and he has been know to fade later in fights. Mayweather now opens up with big right hands, boxing very confidently. DLH looks tired and old, taking shots from the Pretty Boy would is just too fast for him. Mayweather continues to flick out the jabs and other shots with speed. Another good round for Mayweather, showing why he is Boxing Daily’s top pound for pound boxer.

Round 7: De La Hoya comes forward, feinting, looking more active. Mayweather is trying to wear out the stamina of DLH, out of five punches DLH only land one and that is not meaningful. Two good jabs from DLH and another as DLH comes comes back into the contest before a crisp right hook land in the top of DLH’s head. Mayweather lands shots to the body and head still looking brilliant and leading on points. DLH opens up but his punches up just hitting the gloves and arms of Mayweather. Mayweather is losing concentration sometimes, letting DLH back into the fight slightly.

Round 8: Mayweather is on the back foot, moving around the ring but now DLH is getting through with some good punches, by Mayweather is standing his ground. Left Uppercut landed by Floyd and DLH lands some of his own, both fighters are still in this contest. Floyd is still flicking out the jab and then a left right and a right with blistering speed. Not much coming off the back foot from DLH in this round. DLH is urged forward by the crowd and throws a ton of punches, none of them land, noting is coming back, its still all Mayweather as he dominants the round.

Round 9: De La Hoya still shows signs that he has something left, but he cant match the quantity of shots coming from Floyd Mayweather. Mayweather lands more shot to the body and head of the DLH, and more crisp combinations from Floyd Mayweather. DLH’s shots are rarely landing but when they do they are not troubling Mayweather. Floyd is very confident and holds is left hand guard very low, but still performing very well, dampening the pro DLH crowd. Mayweather has re-asserted his dominance on this fight and he is still the main man, due to his speed, which is hurting DLH.

Round 10: Floyd Mayweather seems to be on the way to claiming another title, as DLH misses with two left hooks. Mayweather keeps flicking out his jabs, moves to the front foot, looking to make a stoppage, still very much on top of the fight. DLH cant respond to these lightening attacks from Mayweather, left right left right left right, landing the vast majority of them. DLH throws a disparate right land but Floyd is too quick and slips away from it. They come together in another clinch, and again Mayweather is winning the clinches, winning the fight and wins the round. Its all Mayweather.

Round 11: DLH has six minutes to turn this around, but he is caught by a great left hook to the body and he is hurt, then a right to the head, a right to the body and right to the head, pick any punch you like Mayweather is landing all sorts. DLH comes forward leaning into Mayweather trying to find an opening but Mayweather is so elusive he is very difficult to hit. They stand and trade in centre ring, a right by Floyd and then a left hook. Mayweather takes a big right hand and goes on to the ropes at the end of the round, a glimmer of hope that DLH could come back in this so far all Mayweather fight.

Round 12: This is DLH’s last chance. Can he do it? DLH charges in with a right hand but Mayweather ducks. Mayweather lands a hook on DLH’s chin as they trade punches. Mayweather still flicking out jabs that land on DLH’s chin. Mayweather opens up again to the head and the body with shot left right and centre. DLH pounds away to the body but Floyd smiles and goes into a clinch. Right hand from DLH and a three punch combo comes from DLH but none are hurting. DLH is rocked back but a right hand from Floyd. There is a flurry of punches to end the round.

DLH made a great finish, but Mayweather was in a difference class, it was Mayweather all the way, powered by a blistering pace and lightening speed. Mayweather nearly floored DLH in the last round but didn’t

The decision comes out, 115-113 De La Hoya, 116-112- Mayweather 115-113 Mayweather, so a split decision in Floyd Mayweather’s favour as he wins a world title in a fifth weight class.

Lets be fair here, it was not a spilt decision, it was not close. It was Mayweather all the way. He is still the best pound for pound fighter in the world and he won the biggest fight of the year, the richest non-heavyweight.

Rodger Mayweather summed it up, “He whipped his ass”.

Mayweather himself said “This was a masterpiece” and it certainly was.