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Sunday, February 11, 2001
De La Hoya fighting under a new trainer
Boxer now with Mayweather after parting ways with longtime cornerman Alcazar
Caller-Times wire services
For years, it was one of the touching stories in professional boxing. Oscar De La Hoya, despite criticism from just about everyone, remained loyal to his longtime trainer, Robert Alcazar. Now, after losing his status as boxing's premier non-heavyweight draw, De La Hoya has dispatched Alcazar and hired Floyd Mayweather Sr.
Mayweather is preparing De La Hoya (32-2) for his March 24 bout against Arturo Gatti (33-4) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. There is little doubt Mayweather is going to look like a wizard because De La Hoya figures to stomp Gatti, a fighter who never has learned to defend himself.
Certainly, Gatti is quite a few notches below Felix Trinidad and Shane Mosley, the guys who have beaten the Golden Boy. However, De La Hoya said he is going to be throwing combinations that he didn't even know existed.
"With all respect to Robert, who was my trainer and friend for a long time, this is a business," De La Hoya said Wednesday at a press conference in Los Angeles. "I have to learn. I want to get back on top of the world, on top of the boxing game. I am positive Mayweather will take me there.
"Mayweather has taught me more in three weeks than I have learned in eight years."
Ouch! Sometimes words can hurt more than punches.
Certainly, no one ever questioned De La Hoya's knowledge when he was winning five world titles in four weight classes. But the one obvious flaw in losses to Trinidad and Mosley was De La Hoya's lack of conditioning, and that is a trainer's responsibility, too. Perhaps Alcazar was too good a friend to tell De La Hoya to stop counting his money and hit the heavy bag.
Nevertheless, Mayweather is now the guy who has to get De La Hoya away from music producers and keep him focused on his work at Big Bear Lake. "I am taking De La Hoya through a lot of changes," Mayweather said. "We are not worried about Gatti. Gatti is a piece of meat because he fights with his face, not his fists. I am the best defensive trainer in the world and I am teaching De La Hoya those skills. What we are going to go with Gatti is put a swivel on top of his head, hang him up and use him for a punching bag."
Mayweather's head should continue to swell if De La Hoya continues to heap praise on his new trainer. "Man, is he a trainer," De La Hoya said. "He has been giving me this confidence I have never had before. He has been taking me to a different level and bringing out the best in me. He has got me using my right hand, throwing all kinds of combinations. I want to train, I want to learn. If I am not ready, he will smack me across the head.
"I know people will be watching me under a microscope, to see what I have left. What I really want is to make history, to be in a class all by myself. This is my last fight at 147. After this, I want to move up to 154, eventually to 160."
Although he is a huge underdog, Gatti said he has learned a few new tricks, too. "I hope people continue to think I have no chance," he said. "The perception is that I am just a wild slugger, but I can box, too. My plan is to box and be smart. In most of my other fights, I have just been able to utilize my power and walk through guys. I think people are in for a real surprise."
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a Scripps Howard newspaper. All rights reserved.
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