Vitali Klitschko vs. Cris Arreola / Image: Zuma Press

Vitali looked strong and athletic. Cris looked fat and overmatched—so much so that I had a hard time believing he was undefeated at 27-0 entering last night’s bout. With, essentially, a home arena advantage, Cris (who is from nearby Riverside, CA) was never a threat to Vitali and was in tears (actually sobbing) when the fight ended—apparently upset by not only his performance, but also by the fact he felt his corner (with trainer Henry Ramirez) threw in the towel too early. In an unusual, expletive-laced post-fight interview with HBO’s Larry Merchant, Cris said: “I’m so sorry, I really wanted to be champion. I never wanted to quit.”

Cris was actually the aggressor for much of the fight, but Vitali continually beat him to the punch, assaulting his opponent from every angle in landing 301 of 802 punches. To Cris’ credit, I must say—the guy can certainly take the abuse. Vitali was taller and had a noticeable reach advantage. Throwing in the towel was the right thing to do. Cris’ face was a bloody mess after a ten round beating.

Source: ESPN.com

Post from: EveryJoe

Vitali Klitschko TKO Win Over Cris Arreola

The wooing is over, the coy glances have stopped, the contractual bickering has been worked out and the most anticipated fight since Larry Merchant suggested it to ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael in October 2007 is on!

That same Dan Rafael reports that at a 2:00 p.m. press conference today Oscar De La Hoya will his December 6, 2008 opponent in what he claims will be his last fight. That adversary is expected to be the popular pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao.

There are so many stories, plots, and intrigues with this super fight. Most pressing to me is: will Larry Merchant get to work the HBO PPV fight he imagined or will the slick Gen X media starlet Max Kellerman get the nod?

OK, that’s not really our first thought. The basic string of early questions? What weight will the fight be fought at? Is it really going to be at welterweight? Will the Filipino have enough power in this incredible step up in weight class? Will Manny’s speed be too much for Oscar? Will Oscar’s power be too much for Manny? Did Oscar get his 70-30 pay split? Is this really going to be Oscar’s last fight. Where will a win by either fighter put them in boxing’s pantheon?

The basic point is that at this early stage De La Hoya – Pacquiao ranks a megafight. It’s one that has me looking forward to December, will mark and end to another terrific year of boxing, and might stand as a touchstone in a new classic era of pugilism

Post from: EveryJoe

Oscar De La Hoya vs. Manny Pacquiao is On!

Image details: Oscar De La Hoya v Steve Forbes served by picapp.com

Outside of the ring and in the business world Oscar De La Hoya is obnoxiously confident, he revels in the vicious venture capitalist role, he’s gleeful in his greed, and delighted by the power his money brings. While I’m watching HBO’s wonderful one-off documentary Countdown to Oscar De La Hoya/Steve Forbes and a pre-fight Oscar interview with boxing poet Larry Merchant I see a forthright De La Hoya who is proud of his conscienceless business kingpin role and enjoys its prominent display.

He giggles when he says “greed is good”, when he likens making money and gathering riches to an addiction, and when he announces his goal to be a billionaire. Oscar emits an air of general disingenuousness, a snake oil salesman banter. I don’t want to believe anything he says; I feel like he’s always suckering me into believing something that isn’t true. And just when you want to be repulsed by De La Hoya’s monetary ruthlessness and insincerity he flashes his wide smile, reminds you how he’s fought every good fighter and suddenly all is forgiven.

Before you know it the HBO cameras switch from Merchant’s interview to the live shot of a 25,000+ strong outdoor soccer stadium all clamoring for their liege. King Oscar, HBO’s reminds us, has mandated that tonight’s Steve Forbes fight be broadcast on live television, that it must take place in a people-friendly venue in Los Angeles, and that the tickets be a family-friendly price.

This will be the first Golden Boy fight (the boxer, not the promoter) in the last seven years not to be on pay-per-view and the first not fought in Las Vegas since 2000. Why would Oscar do this? For the people, of course. It has nothing to do with the fight’s dubious worth or his necessary desire to spread his brand product. No. This one is for the people.

Then the fight starts and Oscar remains the same vicious, confident, determined, single-minded ferocious competitor. His business and public persona is his boxing persona. At the end of rounds he must be looking at Forbes with the same condescending you’re-in-my-web-now smile. It’s there, I know it is. Oscar does not change.

Image details: Oscar De La Hoya v Steve Forbes served by picapp.com

But Oscar as a boxer is beautiful, if not almost too business-like, to watch. He stalks his prey with efficiency. He wears Forbes down with jabs and frequent flurries. He pleases the crowd and gives Forbes no hope. Forbes fights passably if not well: he’s not intimidated, he tries to utilize his quickness, and he never stops throwing punches. He does not mimic fellow Contender Peter Manfredo, Jr. in his Joe Calzaghe debacle. He’s just not Oscar. Easy twelve-round decision. One judge scores Oscar all twelve the other two gift Forbes one a piece.

The key to Oscar’s fighting beauty is his competitiveness. He looks beyond distraction, goal-driven, and so powerful. He is sneakily athletic, endlessly ambitious, and he has a plan. Forbes was meant to be a mock-Floyd Mayweather, Jr.: small, quick, elusiveness, with a good chin. Oscar got his twelve-run tune-up, there was to be no knockout tonight. Oscar fought upright, he fought ready, and he fought well. Mayweather, Jr. should be worried when they meet later this year.

In the ring as well as outside the ring Oscar has never backed down and never stopped striving for more. His roster of opponents reads like an International Boxing Hall of Fame induction roster, his stable of Golden Boy boxers is striving to become that same roster. Given Oscar’s singularly ambitious competitiveness it is ludicrous to believe that he will retire after the last two fights in his “farewell trilogy”. It’s impossible. His passion won’t let him and I’m just not buying it, wide smile or not.

Post from: EveryJoe

Oscar De La Hoya Calmly Conquers Steve Forbes