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Oscar's burden
As he trotted into the ring, Shane Mosley had the look of a man who was going anywhere but to a prize fight. More like the look of a man strolling through a garden to meet a lover in the sun. All smiles and smoothness. Confident. Almost blissful. And he wasn't playing the part of the joker or the conman who laughs his way out of a nervous situation. It was genuine. He was at peace, heading into war.
Suddenly, Oscar De la Hoya, the "golden boy", looked like Sonny Liston after a long period of abstinence. The "golden boy" looked mean. He looked focused. But focus isn't necessarily a good thing. It depends what one focuses on. A man who focuses on pressure, on expectations, on doubts, his face will paint a much different picture than the man who focuses on confidence, positive imagery and success. And from the tips of my high powered tentacles of perception, Oscar looked to be tense and worried.
He looked like a man who has cornerned himself into a bad situation, and can't find a way out. The situation I am talking about is not merely fighting Shane Mosley. The situation has many parts. It is part "trying too hard". Which is a result of Oscar's burning desire to redeem his loss to Felix Trinidad.
It is part "Panic". Knowing that another loss will seriously dent his legacy, and his future as fighter.
And it is part "doubt". Doubt concerning Mosley, and the rumours of his superior speed, and about himself and whether or not he can be the savage knockout artist that the public demands.
He was flooded with doubt. And the pieces of his precarious situation painted a mask of great concern. Because for Oscar, winning was never enough. If he won on points, he was criticised. When he boxed, instead of brawled, his manhood was questioned. They said he was a chicken, a pretty boy. Mexican American boxing fans had a difficult time accepting him. He was too clean, too pretty and rich, too smooth. Where was Julio Cesar Chavez?
And I believe that the Mexican boxing fans' reluctance to accept De la Hoya, is at the root of the problem. I believe that this deeply hurt Oscar. Imagine being a proud Mexican American, and fighting for your country, with it's flag waving proudly, but they don't like you. And they don't like you because you don't look and act like all the typical brutes. Because you are good looking and articulate and just too squeeky clean. It's ridiculous. And Oscar is always trying to prove himself. Always trying to prove his 'toughness'. Always trying to gain that respect.
And that's why De la Hoya lost to Mosley. He was trying to be something he is not. Oscar fought Shane's fight. Outside opinion and negative attitudes have dictated the type of fighter De la Hoya has become.
Oscar De la Hoya is a very hard puncher, but his uniqueness lies in his boxing skill. He is a picture-perfect boxer, with great poise and a jarring jab that often makes way for his crushing left hook. He can hurt you...with his skill.
When he fought Felix Trinidad, he was well aware of the fact that Trinidad possessed equal if not greater punching power. So he used his head. He decided that he could beat Trinidad, if he boxed him. And in my eyes, and the eyes of many, it appeared that he had won the fight. (although it annoyed the hell out of me) But the plan backfired. The judges were unimpressed with his display of science. The fans questioned his integrity. And worst of all, the Mexican boxing fans questioned his Machismo.
So, Oscar began his attempted ressurection. You would see the new Oscar, he said. The Oscar that's always been waiting to come out. The knockout artist. The one punch mauler. The Mexican warrior.
And against mediocre oppositon (like Derrell Coley) it was realized. But against a fighter like Mosley, a great fighter, you have to play your strengths. Oscar could have outboxed Mosley, but he choose to brawl. He thought he had to win "big" for it to matter. He saw this as his chance to finally show them. But he went against what was natural and that never results in success. He may have proven himself to be a tough guy. I respect and admire his courage. But you can't fight for others.
And by the look on Oscar's face as he slipped between the ropes, his sculpted shoulders were carrying around a lot more weight than 147 pounds.
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