De La Hoya vs. Chavez II:
History Will Soon Repeat Itself
By Francis Walker
The date was June 1996. At that time, "The Golden Boy", Oscar De La Hoya was not
facing another champion. Instead, it was the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez. What was
supposed to be De La Hoya's "Ultimate Test," turned out to be one of the most
one-sided title bouts this decade. On Friday, September 18, at the Thomas and Mack Center,
Las Vegas, Nevada, history will soon repeat itself...
In what has been labled as "Ultimate Revenge," world welterweight champion De La
Hoya (28-0, 23KOs) will meet Chavez (101-2-2, 83KOs) in a rematch. Only this time it is
personal! The bout, promoted by Top Rank, Inc. and televised on TVKO Pay-Per-View, will be
De La Hoya's fifth defense of the WBC 147-pound title.
In their first bout, De La Hoya's stiff left jabs opened a nasty gash across Chavez' left
eye seconds into the contest. Bruised and battered, a bloody Chavez was virtually blind by
the end of the second round. Soon as De La Hoya sensed victory, he then busted Chavez'
nose with additional jabs followed by double-left hooks. Chavez was so overwhelmed by the
amount of
blood on his body, he suddenly stopped punching.
Chavez had lost so much fluid, referee Joe Cortez stopped the contest in the fourth (TKO
4).
Afterward, both De La Hoya and Chavez' careers have gone in different directions.Chavez
stayed active with a low profile. In his recent bid to win another world championship,
Chavez barely escaped with a draw against Miguel Angel Gonzalez (D 12). Gonzalez, the same
fighter who lost to De La Hoya by decision in January 1997. Meanwhile, De La Hoya went on
to increase his marketing appeal and popularity with wins over former world champions
Gonzalez (W12), Pernell Whitaker (W 12) Hector Camacho (W 12), and others...
The first time De La Hoya fought Chavez, each fighter shared 50% of an $18 million purse.
Neither fighter will make close to that amount the second time around. Fight fans would
prefer to watch De La Hoya meet Jose Luis Lopez, Ike Quartey, Terry Norris, Kostya Tszyu,
Vince Phillips, Keith Mullings, Yori Boy Campas, and Felix Trinidad. But business is
business and De La Hoya puts the butts in the seats - regardless to who the opponent is!
After Chavez, De La Hoya plans on fighting again in November or December. Campas, Oba
Carr, and Frankie Randall were all metioned as possible opponents thus far. Nearly all of
De La Hoya's fights are against marquee opposition.However, he's not fighting the top guys
out there today.
In November, Quartey, former undefeated WBA welterweight champion, has signed to meet IBF
king Trinidad. Hopefully, if all goes well, the winner could meet De La Hoya in the
Spring. De La Hoya seems to be frustrated with the Mexican-American press calling
him "chicken" and a "dead-beat dad", so Oscar's demanding to meet one
of the top names mentioned earlier - soon!!!
While De La Hoya shows constant improvement, Chavez' skills contimue to erode... De La
Hoya knocks Chavez out in the later rounds!