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Fight Preview
Posted: Tuesday June 13, 2000 06:15 PM CNN/SI boxing reporter Evan Kanew analyzes the De La Hoya-Mosley showdown. Matchup to watch, Part 1: De La Hoya at a distance. The Golden Boy can score a knockout with either hand -- but he's not a one-punch KO artist, and Mosley won't go down easily. Will De La Hoya use his typically strong body attack to break down the defenses of his quick and compact opponent, or will he use his reach to box Mosley from the outside? Matchup to watch, Part 2: Mosley up the middle. In recent fights, De La Hoya has tended to keep his hands spread nearly as wide as his shoulders. Mosley's a tight, orthodox technician and may be able to navigate the strait between De La Hoya's dangerous mitts. The way we were: As Southern California amateurs, Mosley and De La Hoya often crossed paths. As members of the national select program, they sparred prior to the '92 Olympics (De La Hoya won gold in Barcelona at 132 pounds; Mosley, then a 139-pounder, wasn't on the Olympic team). When they squared off in an official match, as juniors, the young Sugar Shane defeated the fledgling Golden Boy.
Common Opponents, Part 1: Narciso Valenzuela (De La Hoya KO 1, '93; Mosley KO 5, '94), John John Molina (De La Hoya Dec. 12, '95; Mosley TKO 8, '98), James Leija (De La Hoya TKO 2, '95; Mosley TKO 9, '98), Wilfredo Rivera (De La Hoya TKO 8, '97; Mosley KO 10, '99). Common Opponents, Part 2: Leija, a knockout loser to both at 135 pounds, likes De La Hoya because of his power. "Oscar's twice as strong," he said. Star turns: Few in boxing have more big-fight experience than De La Hoya. Though this will be Mosley's pay-per-view debut, he's hardly a typical unknown making his first big fight. As a lightweight champion, he notched eight successful defenses, all kayos, before moving up. De La Hoya wins if: He makes it a boxing match, commanding the ring and controlling the pace of the fight. De La Hoya must use his size, reach and power advantages along with his mobility to keep Mosley at a distance. Mosley wins if: He executes a tight, fundamental fight from start to finish. De La Hoya (5' 11") has struggled with smaller fighters able to get inside his power. Mosley (5' 9") must also be prepared to take the brunt of the hardest hitter he's ever faced. X-factor: De la Hoya's ability to finish a close fight. Last September he gave
away the Trinidad fight in the late rounds and suffered his first loss. He had
nearly done the same against Ike Quartey in February 1999, before winning a
decision. Closing the show against Mosley will be his ultimate challenge.
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