Oscar De La Hoya was the world’s highest-profile fighter and Floyd Mayweather the world’s finest when they agreed terms to fight on May 5, 2007 on an occasion that would transform Mayweather’s career.
Long recognised as the most gifted of natural talents – and since recognised as almost as effective a marketeer – for everything he had achieved Mayweather seemed likely never to define his profession in the way he so often has since.
In three of his four previous fights – against the popular Arturo Gatti, the talented Zab Judah, and then Carlos Baldomir – he had contributed to respective pay-per-view sales of 365,000, 375,000 and 325,000.
De La Hoya, in contrast – on account of the handsome features that also attracted a female audience, his willingness to fight the best opposition and a style of fighting that was considered more entertaining – had, against Felix Trinidad, Shane Mosley, Bernard Hopkins and more, been the lead attraction in several of the biggest fights of their era.
It was that same desire to fight the best that, with what transpired to be such effective timing for his opponent, presented Mayweather with the circumstances he had been seeking to transcend his existing audience.
The 'Pretty Boy', as he was then known – his 'Money' persona was regardless irrepressible – was, at 30, four years younger than the then-WBC light-middleweight champion but moving above welterweight for the first time having turned professional at 130lbs.
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Trained by his uncle Roger while estranged from his father Floyd Snr, he regardless no doubt benefited from the fact that his dad, who De La Hoya continues to consider the finest of the seven decorated trainers he worked with, would not work the champion’s corner.
In his absence De La Hoya, for the first time, recruited the revered Freddie Roach, and also for the first time prepared to fight while under observation from the HBO cameras while the first ever, transformative, HBO: 24/7 fight build-up series was made.
On Los Angeles’ Hollywood Boulevard, where they met to promote their fight, Mayweather, more than on any previous occasion, had prepared to get under both the 'Golden Boy’s' and the crowd’s skin. When addressing the crowd Mayweather told one of his entourage to “Bring Oscar up here”, and when he did so a faux gold-medal wearing chicken in a cage that read 'Golden Girl' was brought on stage. “I’m the villain in boxing, but damn I’m good,” he told the same crowd when they responded to his stunt by booing him.
When they weighed in De La Hoya was on the limit of 154lbs and Mayweather, though a career heaviest, was built for speed at 150lbs. He then provoked De La Hoya and the Latin American supporters who represented much of De La Hoya’s long-term following when, on fight night, he wore not only a white sombrero but shorts in the red, white and green colours of the Mexican flag.
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“It’s accurate [that I disliked him more than any other opponent], just ‘cause of all the shit he was talking,” De La Hoya told talkSPORT. “There’s no hard feelings whatsoever anymore.
“But that’s why it was such a big fight – because he was the villain. I was the good guy; we were going back and forth. It was pretty entertaining but he was getting under my skin.”
Mayweather – on the eve of an occasion unlike any other he had known and against an opponent with a more passionate following than any he had previously encountered – had cut a nervous figure when, opposite a fighter fighting at middleweight when he had remained at super lightweight, he weighed in.
Come fight night he had regained his composure and, perhaps aware of what was at stake against a once-fine and motivated fighter, proceeded to consistently excel. In front of his father, watching from ringside, he absorbed De La Hoya’s educated pressure throughout the opening half of their fight and started to read him, negate him, and more accurately land.
“I was actually in pretty good shape,” De La Hoya continued. “There was one time when my left shoulder went out on me in camp, but I actually felt great – I was in great shape for that fight.
“He’s got to rank up there – he’s top [of my best opponents]. I love his defence. He does have an underestimated defence. That has to go a long way. When all’s said and done he’ll go down as one of the great defensive fighters.”
By the time, in the second half of their fight, De La Hoya started to tire, Mayweather was starting to prove himself not only the world’s finest active fighter, but potentially one of the finest of all time. When a split decision and scores of 116-112, 115-113 and 113-115 in Mayweather’s favour were announced it was unjust; the first of the scores was the most accurate of the three.
“Oscar won the fight on points, threw more punches and was more aggressive,” Mayweather Snr puzzlingly said, post-fight. “My son had good defence and caught a lot of punches, but Oscar pressed enough to win.”
De La Hoya’s profile, Mayweather’s provocation, and the success of HBO: 24/7 had introduced Mayweather to his widest ever audience, and his performance and personality ensured that, following a $19million live gate, 2.4 million pay-per-view buys and a total revenue of $165million that then made it the richest fight in history – De La Hoya was paid $52million and Mayweather $25million – he succeeded his rival at the very top of their sport.
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“Before he fought me he was fighting on HBO making $1million, $2million a fight,” De La Hoya told talkSPORT. “After he fought me he was starting to make $20million, $25million – it was a big jump for him, beating the ‘Golden Boy’. The same thing happened with Manny Pacquiao [in December 2008].
“I loved fighting everybody, no matter my age. I’m glad I can help these fighters build their careers and make a few extra bucks.”
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