De La Hoya: Canelo vs. Chavez Will Resemble Barrera-Morales

[Ruthless-RKO]

"De La Hoya: Canelo vs. Chavez Will Resemble Barrera-Morales"

Oscar De La Hoya has been involved in several big fights against fellow Mexicans.

The former six-division champion cannot remember one, though, that was as big an event as Canelo Alvarez-Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. has become. Tickets to the 20,000-seat T-Mobile Arena sold out more than two months in advance of their May 6 fight, Alvarez-Chavez is expected to be the most profitable pay-per-view boxing event since Alvarez-Miguel Cotto in November 2015 and more than 50 million people are expected to watch the fight on free TV in Mexico.

Beyond business, De La Hoya, whose company promotes Alvarez, thinks their rivalry will produce fantastic action in the ring. “The Golden Boy” went as far as to say he expects competition comparable to one of the most memorable Mexican battles in boxing history.

“In terms of action inside of the ring, I would say kind of like Barrera-Morales,” De La Hoya said during a conference call Tuesday. “But in terms of the event, of how big it is, I cannot remember a fight between two Mexicans that has created so much interest, anticipation. So this is probably the biggest event, boxing event, with two Mexican fighters. But in terms of the ring, I would have to say we’re gonna see action like Barrera-Morales.”

The all-action brawl between Mexican rivals Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales was named “Fight of the Year” for 2000 by numerous media outlets. Morales won their first 12-round bout by split decision in February 2000 at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

The third Barrera-Morales match, which Barrera won by majority decision in November 2004 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, earned “Fight of the Year” recognition from the Boxing Writers Association of America.

De La Hoya senses that similar Mexican pride will bring out the best in Alvarez (48-1-1, 34 KOs) and Chavez (50-2-1, 32 KOs, 1 NC) when they meet May 6.

“These are the types of fights that take you to a whole new level, in terms of your boxing abilities inside the ring,” De La Hoya said. “It makes you obviously train harder. It gives you that extra motivation. If you wanna go run 10 miles today, guess what? You’re gonna go run 11 or 12, because you’re so amped, because this fight is so personal. And look, both fighters are gonna be in the best shape of their life.

“But for some strange reason, there’s something extra that comes out in you. Canelo and Chavez are gonna find out that, ‘Wow! I didn’t know I could do this move.’ Or, ‘I didn’t know I could throw this combination at such a fast pace.’ That extra motivation, it’s gonna be all instinctual. It’s gonna be all because of that pride, because of [all] that’s at stake. We’re gonna see two completely different fighters, fighters that we’ve never seen before, inside the ring on May 6th. And it’s all because of that pride and that stake.”

[MachoTime]

We shall see. I can't get over the hump of having one fighter to cut weight. That is never a good thing. Chavez Jr. might have a better chance if Canelo can't handle the extra weight.

Still advantage goes to the fighter moving up here. Hopefully Chavez Jr. has something left. I'll be watching this one.

[Tanzio]

More like Pumpkinhead v Santa Muerte.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

If thats the case, I'll enjoy the stream.

[Impractical Poster]

It should be good.

[northern]

It's a fight that does have all the potential to be anyway, Canelo gets to fight a big name at catch-weight and see how he handles the extra weight, Chavez gets a big fight against one of the current pound for pound best on the planet.

If both men put in 100% in training and really push for the win, we could see 12 rounds of great boxing and maybe a re-match if it is close.

[Oiky]

really hoping for a chavez jr upset

[gilgamesh]

I'd sure love it if he turns out to be right

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I'd sure love it if he turns out to be right

No shit, but considering those two had more talent and balls in their fingernails than either of these two do in their bodies, I won't expect it. I do think it will be entertaining, Chavez has to lay it on the line. I think he will.