The “Super Bowl” of Boxing: Oscar De La Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather

On May 5^th the world’s most popular boxer will square off against the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. It is easy to see, this fight markets itself. The tickets for the event at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas have sold out weeks ago, and some tickets are selling from various other outlets for more than ten times their face value.

This fight has the ability to do something that hardly any other fights do, and that is to make boxing fans out of people who normally do not watch it. That reason, and the fact it is getting so much press in the main stream, is the reason it is being compared to the annual NFL football championship, the Super Bowl.

Skeptics, which there are a few, but not many, will tell you that neither fighter has fought anyone that good for a few years. For “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather (37-0 24 KO’s), the critiques have had a field day. Despite being undefeated, and hardly ever being in trouble in a fight, boxing experts are upset with Mayweather’s resume, or lack thereof.

It has been four years since Mayweather has really been tested. In his first fight against Jose Luis Castillo he won what was a comfortable decision on the scorecards, but appeared much closer than they indicated. This outcry caused a rematch just four months later, where Mayweather appeared to have an easy time with Castillo, but the results on the scorecards were even closer than the first fight. Since then, Mayweather’s toughest opponent was last year against Zab Judah, and Judah was coming off of a loss. The person Judah lost to, Carlos Baldomir, ended up being the welterweight champion, and was then defeated by Mayweather in 12 lopsided rounds. One would think that you would get credit for embarrassing the welterweight champion of the world, but Baldomir had nine losses to his ledger and won the championship in an upset to begin with.

One of Mayweather’s toughest opponents to date has not come in a boxing ring but rather it is his own family. His father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., used to be De La Hoya’s trainer. After De La Hoya did not match Floyd Sr.’s contract request he was no longer his trainer and was replaced by the much respected Freddie Roach. After a short stint in jail, the elder Mayweather was greeted with open arms to his son’s training camp, but just as an advisor, not a trainer. Doing the training already was Mayweather’s uncle, Roger (Are you following?). Recently Floyd Sr. and Roger have been bickering in the press, mainly because Dad wants a bigger role in his son’s training, but Roger wants no part of it. One would think this would be a distraction in Mayweather’s camp, but it probably is not. Mayweather has been used to this tremulous feeling for a long time growing up in the Mayweather house.

For only the second time in his career, “The Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya (38-4 30 KO’s) will be entering the ring as an underdog. The last time he did was also his last loss, a ninth round KO to former middleweight king Bernard Hopkins. While Mayweather has been criticized for his resume for light competition, De La Hoya has fought decent fighters, but has looked vulnerable in some of those fights. In his fight before the Hopkins KO, he fought German Felix Sturm and squeaked away with a decision. In his last fight, which will be over a year ago from when he steps into the ring May 5^th, was against Ricardo Mayorga. De La Hoya stopped Mayorga in six rounds, but by all accounts Mayorga has been damaged goods for quite a bit.

Overall though, De La Hoya has had the most impressive resume since perhaps Muhammad Ali. De La Hoya has fought numerous former champions in numerous weight divisions, including Hopkins, Mayorga, Sturm, Shane Mosley, Fernando Vargas, Felix Trinidad, and a handful more. That is a virtual who’s who in the world of boxing. Mayweather says he is the best boxer ever, but he never tested his theory against the same fighters De La Hoya has.

With that resume, and the fact that De La Hoya is the naturally bigger and stronger man, it is hard to imagine why this fight is not a pick’em. De La Hoya is easily the best fighter Mayweather has ever fought, but the same can possibly be said for De La Hoya. Mayweather’s boxing ability is unmatched and the way he can change his style based on opponents, or even during a fight, is quite remarkable. The guess here is that a lot of late money will go on De La Hoya. One reason is because he is the biggest name in the sport today, and another reason is that it seems like a good value to bet on, as we said, the bigger stronger man.

However you view it, this is the biggest event in boxing in a long time, and has a chance to break all boxing box office records. At 55 dollars, it is the most expensive Pay-Per-View of all time, but is expected to be bought by the most people ever, with the possible exception of heavyweight title fights.

The Current Odds:

Floyd Mayweather JR. -220

Oscar De La Hoya +170

Over 11.5 rounds -265

Under 11.5 rounds +205

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Main Event: Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic vs. Gabriel Gonzaga (Winner is number one contender for a shot at Randy Couture’s Heavyweight Championship.)

On April 21^st, the world’s best UFC fighters will travel to the historic MEN Arena. This will only be the second time in UFC history that they have held an event in the United Kingdom, and the first time in Manchester. The event will be televised live in the United States on SPIKE TV. The only other time they went to the United Kingdom was back at UFC 38, in 2002. This is also only the seventh time in history that the UFC will hold an event outside of the United States, the first since the 2002 event in Manchester, so it is clearly been a long time coming. The wait will be well worth it, as they get to see one of the best strikers in all of Mixed Martial Arts today, Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic.

Cro Cop, as he is more widely known, is one of the most feared fighters in the world today. He has a 22-4-2 record in his MMA career. However, he has only had one UFC fight, but it was a dominate win. In February of this year, he knocked out perennial contender Eddie Sanchez in the very first round.

One of Cro Cop’s losses may also be considered one of his best performances. In 2005, at PRIDE-Final Conflict, he lost a decision to Fedor Emelianeko. If Cro Cop is considered one of the best fighters in the world, then Emelianeko is considered the best. Although Cro Cop lost because he was out struck by Emelianeko, he did do something that most fighters do not do, and that is last the distance.

Cro Cop has won his last five MMA fights, all inside the distance. While he is known for his overpowering strikes, he won two of his last five by submission. The man can do it all, and it will be all Gabriel Gonzaga can do to make the fight competitive.

Gonzaga has a respectable record of 7-1 in MMA and is 3-0 in the UFC. At 240 pounds, he will hold a 20 pound weight advantage over Cro Cop. Gonzaga, from Brazil, implores the style of Brazilian Jui Jitsu. He is known both for his striking game, and his ability to end matches quickly with a variety of submission moves. Cro Cop has only submitted once, a fight back in 2003, but has improved in defense since then.

What Gonzaga has going for him is the same thing Matt Serra had going for him against Georges St. Pierre. Serra was not expected to get anywhere near defeating St. Pierre, going into the fight a huge underdog. Instead, he made short work of St. Pierre, knocking him out at 3:25 of the first round. Gonzaga is actually less of an underdog than Serra was (about 3 to 1) and it is not out of the realm of possibility that backers of Gonzaga would cheer in delight as he landed one of his stiff right hands into Cro Cop and earn the victory.

Other Televised Fights

Light Heavyweights David Heath and Lyoto Machadia will fight in a battle of undefeated Light Heavyweights. The winner will go to 10-0-0 and the loser to 9-1-0.

Opening the fight card will be England’s own Michael Bisping (13-0-0) taking on Elvis Sinosic (8-9-2). If England treats Bisping with the same love they show their other fighters, like professional boxer Ricky Hatton, then the arena could get pretty loud. All and all is seems like a great card and a great opportunity for the UFC to get themselves geared for making more overseas fights.

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On May 5^th the Kentucky Derby returns to Churchill Downs for the 133^rd time. The first leg of the elusive Triple Crown is also generally perceived as the most exciting and important horse race in the world. Speaking of the Triple Crown, it has been nearly 30 years since Affirmed won the last one in 1978. Since then seven horses have won the first two legs of the Triple Crown the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, but were unable to win the Belmont. Every year millions of people who don’t normally watch horse racing get intrigue with the idea of a Triple Crown winner. It all starts in Kentucky. Let’s take a look at the likely favorites and a horse that could surprise everyone.

The Favorite

Almost every year a horse stands out more than any other as a clear favorite to win the Derby and to take a shot at the Triple Crown. However, this year no horse has set itself apart from the others. As of right now (April 12) Street Sense is the current favorite at 5-1. Street Sense won the Tampa Bay Derby on March 17^th, defeating Any Given Saturday by the slimmest of margins. Street Sense pulled some bold moves to take away the lead from Any Given Saturday down the stretch in a back and forth race. His performance has horse racing experts thinking that is exactly the type of performance that is needed to win a race that will have a crowded 18-20 participants. Street Sense has won his last two races and hasn’t finished less than 3^rd in his last six outings.

Other Contenders

Nobiz Like Showbiz is just behind Street Sense at 6-1 odds. Nobiz Like Showbiz has won four out of his last six outings, and hasn’t finished worse than third. Just last month he won the Wood Memorial, defeating another Kentucky Derby hopeful, Any Given Saturday. In that race he displayed great stamina, consistently increasing his lead over the last ½ mile. Even in defeat this horse has shown grittiness and determination, the kind that is impossible to not notice if you are a horse lover. Nobiz Like Showbiz will need to rely on that grit and determination in order to muscle past the other competitors on the crowded track.

The horse Street Sense beat at Tampa Bay, Any Given Saturday was at one time considered the favorite to win. The loss at Tampa Bay may have come as a wake up call to team Any Given Saturday, and they are still a prime favorite to win the Kentucky Derby. Any Given Saturday started off quick, winning his debut at Maiden Race Track by a nose. He followed that up by winning the Allowance by displaying a powerful run down the stretch. It was then he began to get the attention of bookmakers as a favorite every time he races. It was also then though that he began to drop off. He has only won one race since the Allowance, and that was a race he was an overwhelming favorite, so it didn’t really prove much. Any Given Saturday is currently hovering around 15-1 odds.

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Can anyone beat the Dallas Mavericks? That seems to be the big question as the NBA season winds down. A few teams are still fighting for a playoff birth, but just like in other sports, those teams that are fighting for the last playoff birth are generally the first teams to be eliminated in the playoffs. In fact, no eight seeded team (eight seed is the worst seed you can get) has ever won an NBA championship. Below is a preview of what we can expect out of the Eastern and Western conferences as the playoffs come upon us.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

The difference between the Miami Heat returning to the championship or not relies literally on the shoulders of Dwayne Wade. Wade decided against season ending surgery for a shoulder he separated. Instead he took nearly two months off, and now has just recently returned. Experts think that it will not take much for Wade’s shoulder to be re-injured, and he will eventually have to get the surgery. Another reason the Heat have crept up the standings lately is because of the injury problems that have suddenly struck the Washington Wizards. The Wizards sat pretty on top of the Southeast division for the majority of the season, but then in a matter of a few days they lost their two best players. Carron Butler will return in a couple of weeks, but superstar Gilbert Arenas went down with a knee injury and will be out for the rest of the season. The only way Arenas could comeback is if the Wizards advanced to the finals. At one time this seemed like a possibility, but seems highly unlikely now. The Wizards are 2-8 in their last 10 games, and have lost four in a row. But, with a single victory over the last few games of the season they will make the playoffs.

The Detroit Pistons have been peaking of late and last night they won their 50^th game of the season. Rasheed Wallace, Tayshaun Prince, and Chauncey Billups and company have been the most consistent of any team in the east. The Pistons will more than likely earn home court advantage throughout the playoffs.

The Orlando Magic are holding on to the eighth and final playoff spot and will most likely hold onto it. The New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers still have a slight chance to steal the spot, but they are both a couple games out with just a handful of games to go.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

The Western Conference continues to dominate, at least during the regular season. While the east only has one team with 50 wins, with the possibility of only getting one more 50 win team, the west has three, with the possibility of five. Dallas Mavericks lead the entire league with 64 wins and show no sings of slowing down. Last year the Mavericks lost to the Miami Heat in seven games to lose the championship. A lot of NBA experts are using the term “team of destiny” to describe this year’s version of the Mavericks, and it is hard to disagree with them. A few Western Conference teams may disagree with this though.

The Phoenix Suns immediately come to mind when you think of a team that could give Dallas a run for their money. The Suns are currently in second, with 58 wins. Any team that has Steve Nash, a two-time NBA most valuable player, you are a position to win a championship. The San Antonio Spurs, led by Tim Duncan, are also a team that could make noise in the West. They are in third place but a very strong team, and has sort of been forgotten about because of the other team in their state that has been stealing the headlines. Another Texas team, the Houston Rockets, fifth place, is also quietly having a good season. Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming finally seem to be working on all cylinders and add to a team from Texas that could win the NBA Championship.

The Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers are the two teams battling for the eighth place, and the unwanted task of playing the Dallas Mavericks in the first round. Kobe Bryant and his Los Angeles Lakers are in seventh place, but have lost six out of their last ten. Bryant has been getting praise of late for helping make his teammates better, but he will need to step up his game in order for the Lakers to somehow get by the first round of the playoffs.

The current overwhelming odds on favorite to win the NBA playoffs are the Dallas Mavericks. If the Heat can remain healthy, a rematch of last year’s championship is a distinct possibility.

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For the NHL, the regular season is running out.  All teams have just about five or six games left to determine playoff seeding, or if they will even be in the post-season at all.

It is still too early to tell who will do what in the playoffs, mainly because all the playoff seeds have not yet been determined, but we can take a look at each conference and see who can be determined as Stanley Cup contenders.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

The Eastern Conference is still more wide open than the Western.  Eight teams are still mathematically able to make one of the three playoff spots remaining.  The teams currently holding on to those spots are the New York Rangers at sixth with 87 points, Tampa Bay Lighting at seventh with 86 points, and the Montreal Canadians are holding on to the eighth and final spot, also with 86 points.  The Toronto Maple Leafs seem to be the most capable of stealing one of those spots.  They are one spot out, with 85 points, and 5-3-2 in their last ten.  The New York Islanders and Carolina Hurricanes are both tied with 84 points with a fair chance to sneak in.  The two teams that would need the most work are the Florida Panthers with 80 points and the Boston Bruins, who have 76 points, and would need nothing short of a miracle to sneak into the playoffs.

The two best teams in the east have been far and away the Buffalo Sabers and the Pittsburg Penguins.  At one time the Penguins thought they would be leaving Pittsburg, now they are revitalizing the city by priming for a Stanley Cup run.  Sidney Crosby, Mark Recchi, and Jarkko Ruutu have clearly made the Penguins a top notch contender.

Interestingly enough, both last year’s championship winner and championship runner-ups are on the outside looking in for a playoff result.  The Hurricanes have an outside chance of making it in the east, but the Edmonton Oilers have already been eliminated from playoff contention.  If both teams fail to make the playoffs it will be the first time in NHL history that teams who played in the finals the year before did not make the playoffs in the next year.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

The Western Conference is in much better order than the East.  They only have one playoff spot to decide before having their entire eight sorted out.  The Calgary Flames seem like they will most likely lay claim to that.  They are in eighth with 94 points and the next closest team, the Colorado Avalanche is at 87.  While it is feasible that the Avalanche could catch them, time is quickly running out. 

The Western Conference has four teams at over 100 points, with three other tied at 98.  On the other hand the Eastern Conference only has two teams.  This means that the Western Conference is clearly the stronger conference, and it is a good chance your Stanley Cup winner will be coming from that side of the bracket. 

The Detroit Red Wings lead the west with 105 points and have been close to unbeatable at home, earning a 27-4-7.  Their team is loaded with all-stars and proven winners.  With names like Dominik Hasak, Nicklas Lindstrom, and Chris Chelios suiting up for you every night, they have earned the right to be called the odds on favorite to win it all.  Don’t forget though, the Western Conference is loaded with good teams, such as Anaheim, Vancouver, and Nashville, that have all played on a high level and are willing to embrace the role as underdog for a chance to win the Stanley Cup.

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