Oscar De La Hoya v Ricky Hatton?
If you thought Audley Harrison fighting for a world heavyweight title was the most unlikely bout in modern day boxing, you’ll be flabbergasted to hear about the mooted return off two former big swingers.
It looks like Oscar De La Hoya is thinking about making a surprise comeback and he wants fellow retiree Ricky Hatton to come join him.
There is absolutely no question at all that these two fighters are way past their peak. This fight may not set the world on fire or even provide them with anything more than a one off decent pay day. It is unlikely that either will make full career returns, what this is about is them missing the sport. Both of them are boxing men through and through and it’s the love of the game that is giving them itchy fists.
What are the chances of this happening? Well, since retiring De La Hoya has cultivated the biggest boxing promotion company out there in “Golden Boy Promotions”. Hatton on the other hand had a crack at a similar thing which was going well until he went spectacularly of the rails with his cocaine scandal which saw him go to rehab and get stripped of his managerial licences and boxing licence.
However this was seen as a harsh punishment for “The Hitman” and could probably be revoked. It would be unlikely that he would not be allowed to fight off the back of it.
It would be a remarkable fight, not in terms of skill because both of these fighters are shot; it would just be interesting to see the return of two former top rate fighters. It’s a bit like that scene at the end of Rocky III where Apollo Creed wants a crack at Rocky because his defeat has played on his mind for so long, just without the eye of the tiger playing.
Both of these two were put out of service by the unstoppable Manny Pacquiao. The little Filipino destroyed Del La Hoya over nine rounds in 2008 prompting “Golden Boy” to retire. A year later and it was Hatton who was taken out by Pacman in sickening fashion with a brutal second round knockout that saw the former two-weight champion comatose on the canvas.
Neither fighter looked like they did in their prime when they faced Pacquiao. De La Hoya looked every inch the washed up fighter in his last outing, where Hatton looked busy in his but was well out of his depth, but then again who does look good against Pacman?
Boxers and other sportsman often say you can never replicate the buzz you get from first class competition. While they may become successful in other areas nothing will compete to winning a world title or a big fight and having only been retired for a few years these two must be constantly thinking about a comeback.
It could well be on the lines of Roy Jones Jnr v Bernard Hopkins II; two past it shells of fighters slugging away, but still it’s an interesting development nonetheless.
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