During the weeks leading to the May 5 De La Hoya - Mayweather fight, boxing connoseurs predicted that this would be the bout that would win boxing its long lost fans. I grew up in an environment where boxing was a national sport. I watched the likes of Azumah Nelson destroy boxers like Jeff Fenech of Australia. And I always admired Pernell Whitaker. As time went on, I lost interest in the sport particularly because of the disgust with some of the judging. It was not out of disappointment that my favorite boxer did not win a bout. It was rather anger towards what I saw as a direct insult to me by the judges. I have eyes, just like everyone else. To watch some fights which are soo obviously one sided and easy to score and to listen to the judges score in favor of the real loser of the fight makes a mockery of not only us the spectators, but the sport as a whole.
Well that’s how boxing lost its fan base. And if it was banking on perfect judging to bring back the masses, then its work last night was not achieved. No question… Ffloyd Mayweather beat Oscar De La Hoya. Whether you love or hate the pretty boy … whether you love or hate the golden boy… Mayweather won.
How then did Judge Tom Kaczmarek have Oscar De La Hoya winning 115 - 113? Did he watch the same fight I did? Did he watch the same fight millions of us did? If he did… then I’m going back to soccer!