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 Sage Advice for De La Hoya from "The Man"
By David A. Avila (June 10, 2004) Photo © HoganPhotos.com
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Following his controversial but gutsy win over Felix Sturm for the WBO middleweight title, the World Boxing Hall of Fame has named Oscar De La Hoya the "Fighter of the Year."
He follows last year’s winner Roy Jones Jr. and will be presented the award in October at the awards banquet.
De La Hoya won his sixth weight division world title last weekend in a pro career that has spanned 1992 to the present and includes titles as a junior lightweight to middleweight. It’s never been accomplished before.
Witnessing Oscar De La Hoya’s venture into the middleweight ranks was former welterweight great Armando "the Man" Muniz, who knows a thing or two about being robbed of a win.
Compared to the robbery Muniz experienced back in 1975 when he fought Jose "Mantequilla" Napoles, De La Hoya’s win over Felix Sturm wasn’t even petty theft.
Muniz sat in press row observing De La Hoya’s ascent to the 160-pound division. He remembers well when De La Hoya entered the professional ranks as a 130-pounder and marvels at his hand speed. But in spite of all those De La Hoya qualities, the fighter who regularly sold out the Grand Olympic Auditorium whenever he fought knows first hand how difficult moving from 147 to 160 pounds can be.
During his last years as a prizefighter in the late 1970s, Muniz ventured to Japan to help his stablemate prepare for a fight. While there he met and had the opportunity to spar with the legendary Philadelphia middleweight Bennie Briscoe. Muniz was a welterweight who had thoughts of moving up to middleweight.
"I went with Renato Garcia to Japan, he was my sparring partner, he was a middleweight. When he went to fight there I sparred with Benny Briscoe, he was a slugger type," said Muniz of his first real experience against a middleweight contender. "I could tell the difference. He was a legitimate 160-pounder and he was solid. Every punch you could feel it."
Muniz, who convincingly beat Napoles for the welterweight title in their first match on March 1975 but was ruled the loser, said as a welterweight he felt unbeatable. But middleweight…
"I was honored and pleased to have sparred with Briscoe," said Muniz who fought his entire pro career as a welterweight. "If I ever could have made the weight I better look for another line of work. The average fighter I could handle but the good middleweights were strong."
Though Muniz has a victory over another Philadelphia middleweight, Bobby "Boogaloo" Watts, in 1970, it came as a welterweight.
"We were just sparring. I don’t know if he opened up, but in any case I knew he was stronger," Muniz said recounting his sparring session with hard-hitting Briscoe. "If somebody asked me if I thought I could beat him I would have said ‘of course I can.’ But he would have beat on me like I beat on welterweights."
Muniz, who teaches at Rubidoux High, said De La Hoya has a physical build that won’t allow him to bulk up. He suggests that the East Los Angeles fighter maintain his junior middleweight pounds so that he can utilize his speed and forget about power. He also adds one more tip:
"I’ll never forgot what Art Aragon (the original Golden Boy) said to me," said Muniz. "You can never fight one fight too little but you can fight one fight too much."
Analyzing De La Hoya’s win
Experience won over the sturdy German last Saturday and a willingness by the East Los Angeles fighter to throw repeated combinations. Sturm usually countered one punch at a time, seldom throwing more than a two-punch combination. He fought a safety first fight. Of course all of the De La Hoya haters are quick to jump and rant that it was a robbery, but the Golden Boy did land more power punches and took chances doing it. Sturm took no chances and lost his title.
How big of a chance did De La Hoya take? His legs wobbled from weariness during the last two rounds and any solid connect would have probably dropped him. But Sturm never capitalized on it.
"You can’t win a fight throwing just one or two punches," said Floyd Mayweather, De La Hoya’s trainer. "You’d have to be Ray Charles to not see De La Hoya landing those combinations."
All those people that say none of De La Hoya’s combinations landed may not realize what kind of speed it takes to unleash a combination like that repeatedly. Sturm seldom countered during those blinding combinations. And he was hurt in the fourth round.
Bojorquez loses bid for title
With only four days notice Carlos "El Elegante" Bojorquez jumped at the opportunity to fight for the IBF junior middleweight title against Verno Phillips (38-9-1) and lost by technical knockout in the sixth round last weekend.
Bojorquez (22-5-6) fought bravely and never quit in the ring despite not having full preparation for the fight, said television analyst Al Bernstein. Though Bojorquez landed some good blows it wasn’t enough to hurt Phillips who never stayed in front of Bojorquez’s range.
Despite the loss, it was Bojorquez’s first opportunity for the world title and he was eager to step in. In the sixth round, after getting knocked down by a body shot, trainer Willy Silva wisely stopped the bout. But it was a valiant effort for Bojorquez who showed what he could do with little preparation. Imagine at least a month of solid training.
Chevelle Hallback
She’s only been in Temecula for about two weeks and already Chevelle Hallback has two fights under her belt since moving from Florida.
Hallback (21-4-1, 10 KOs) scored a fourth round technical knockout victory over Bonnie Canino (11-3) at the Chinook Casino in Oregon last Friday.
The IBA junior lightweight world title-holder will be moving up in weight to fight Puerto Rico’s Belinda Laracuente on July 2, at the Pala Casino. Hallback will be competing with Laracuente for the IBA junior welterweight title in a 10-round fight.
Currently Hallback is training at the War Zone boxing club in Corona.
"I love to fight," said Hallback whose walk around weight is 132. "That’s when I’m feeling good when I’m in the ring."
Hallback’s clever footwork and lightning hand speed intimidates possible opponents from stepping in the ring. But her next opponent Laracuente (21-5-2) is also a clever boxer who once fought Christy Martin to a majority decision loss. Their bout will be shown on ESPN2.
Friday fight card in Corona
Yoni Vargas fights Efren Hinojosa for the vacant WBO Intercontinental lightweight title at Omega Products International in Corona. Also on the card will be Riverside heavyweight prospect Chris Arreloa (6-0) engaged in a showdown with another undefeated heavyweight Frederick Kassi (6-0) of Cameroon.
The fight card begins at 7:30 p.m. For more information call (714) 935-0900.
June 18 fight card
The Donaire brothers, Glenn and Nonito, from the Philippines will be fighting at the Quiet Cannon in Montebello.
Glenn Donaire (11-1, 7 KOs), a flyweight, will face Rafael Chavez (11-17) and Nonito (7-1, 5 KOs) is matched against Luis Angel Martinez (7-5).
For more information call (323) 816-3165.
June 19 fight card
Former featherweight world champion Marco Antonio Barrera (57-4) returns to the ring after losing to Manny Pacquiao, but it doesn’t get easy. The Mexico City fighter faces junior featherweight champion Paulie Ayala (35-2) at the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles.
Also on the card will be Jermain Taylor (20-0) against former junior middleweight title-holder Raul Marquez (35-2) in a 12-round middleweight match.
Fights on television
Fri. ESPN2, 5 p.m., Troy Rowland (18-1) vs. Kenny Ellis (33-5-2).
Fri. Telefutura, 9 p.m., Oscar Larios (51-3-2) vs. Jesus Perez (24-3-2).
Fri. Telemundo, 11:30 p.m., Arturo Morua (22-8) vs. Wilfredo Negron (18-5).
Sat. www.maxboxing.com 12:15 p.m., Ricky Hatton (35-0) vs. Carlos Vilches (41-4-2). $4.99 a month membership fee.
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