BERT SUGAR'S PRE-FIGHT ANALYSIS:
DE LA HOYA VS. MAYORGA

May 2, 2006 - by Bert Sugar (with Steve Small)

STRENGTHS OF EACH FIGHTER
Oscar De La Hoya

--De La Hoya possesses both speed and mobility as well as a versatility which, when combined with devastating power--particularly from his left hand, De La Hoya being a turnaround left hander-- makes him a complete fighter, one who can take advantage of his opponent's flaws.

--Over his 13-year career De La Hoya has fought some of the biggest names in boxing--including Julio Cesar Chavez, Fernando Vargas, Felix Trinidad, Sugar Shane Mosley, Pernell Whitaker, Ike Quartey and Bernard Hopkins--giving him far more experience in against the "big" men than Mayorga.

--Fueled by both Mayorga's ugly taunts and a desire to round out his illustrious career with a golden performance, De La Hoya has a psychological edge.


Ricardo Mayorga

--Mayorga has explosive power and can hurt opponents with either hand--especially his dynamite-laden overhand right.

--His crude, unorthodox style works in his favor because it is well-nigh impossible to prepare for his unpredictability.

--Mayorga possesses a tough set of whiskers, a great heart and no fear, making him a difficult opponent.

WEAKNESSES OF EACH FIGHTER
Oscar De La Hoya

--The first sound you hear may be the rust falling off De La Hoya, this being his first fight in almost 30-months and making him vulnerable in the early going against the fast-starting Mayorga.

--If, as De La Hoya says he will, "stand in front of him," then he will be standing in Mayorga's wheelhouse, all the better for Mayorga to hit him.

--The one punch you can reach De La Hoya with repeatedly is a wide right hook (for references, see the Sugar Shane Mosley fights), which is Mayorga's best punch.

--With enough fur flying at the pre-fight press conference to cause PETA to complain, some of Mayorga's insults have admittedly gotten under De La Hoya's skin. He cannot afford to lose his composure and fight Mayorga's fight by trying to avenge the taunts against his family and profession, but must fight his own.

Ricardo Mayorga

--With almost no defensive skills, his best defense being his great chin, Mayorga cannot afford to stand in there and take Oscar's best punches all night.

--A slow flat-footed fighter who walks straight into his opponents, Mayorga must vary his style or face the consequences--and De La Hoya's left.

--The beating Mayorga took at the hands of Felix Trinidad may still have a lasting effect on Mayorga.

--Mayorga's plodding forward will give him trouble staying with the speedy style of De La Hoya.

WHAT EACH FIGHTER MUST DO TO WIN
Oscar De La Hoya

--Jab, box and slide sideways, always moving to his right to avoid Mayorga's big right hand.

--When in close De La Hoya should attack the body which Mayorga doesn't protect well.

--De La Hoya cannot afford to be caught up in any macho posing nor let his anger at Mayorga's comments take him out of his gameplan, but must keep moving and pick Mayorga apart.

Ricardo Mayorga

--Mayorga's best chance at winning is to wear De La Hoya down. In previous fights Oscar has shown problems with his stamina. That, combined with his 30-month layoff, means that Mayorga has a chance to win if he pressures him and wears him down.

--Mayorga should, when the occasion arises, resort to street tactics, roughing up De La Hoya and angering him to lure him into an all-out street fight.

--Mayorga needs to keep his hands up and move his head a little, not, as he has in the past, try to just walk through De La Hoya.