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Oscar De La Hoya was given a 7-foot statue outside of LA’s Staples Center on Monday, December 1st. The Golden Boy’s bronze likeness will join those of Magic Johnson and Wayne Gretzky outside of LA’s home to the Lakers, Clippers, Kings, Sparks and Avengers.
Bill Plaschke, of the LA Times, wrote an article here about how ridiculous it is that De La Hoya should have his own statue out there when such greats as Kareem and Jerry West do not. I’ve never minded Plaschke on ESPN’s Around the Horn, but this article does showcase him as a pretty marginal talent as far as persuasive writing goes. His main arguments against De La Hoya gracing the outside of the Staples Center: he’s only fought in the building once, “where he was punched 284 times in loss.” He’s preparing for his bout against Manny Pacquiao Saturday “in which he will probably get pounded again.”
Here’s the thing: De La Hoya is an LA icon. Unlike Kareem, Jerry West, Chick Hearn, Magic Johnson, or Wayne Gretzky, Oscar De La Hoya has actually performed at the Staples Center. That’s right, not one of the previously mentioned athletes has. Yes he lost, but he lost a narrow split decision to Sugar Shane Mosley, one of the better fighters on the planet. And anyone who watches boxing (and it’s abundantly clear that Mr. Plaschke does not fall into that camp) can tell you that De La Hoya will not be getting pounded on Saturday night. Anyone can watch 24/7 and call themselves a boxing expert.
I’m not sure that NB will be writing about the De La Hoya v Pacquiao “Dream Match” before Saturday night, so here’s my preliminary prediction. De La Hoya by TKO on accumulation in no more than five rounds. But more power to Pacman if he wants to pull off a miracle, I’d be happy to be wrong.