MEXICAN WORLD CHAMPS: WE ARE SHOCKED!
By Alex P. Vidal
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 09 Dec 2008
LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- The seven former world champions and four current world champions from Mexico who were at ringside during the "Dream Match" On December 6 at the MGM Grand, mourned the fall of their last hope to redeem the pride of Mexican ring warriors saying they were shocked with Oscar De La Hoya's 8th round technical knockout loss to the "Mexican killer" Manny Pacquiao.
"I'm speechless," shot former world bantamweight champion Carlos "Canas" Zarate (66-4, 63 KOs) who was active in the ring from 1970 to 1988. "I thought Oscar would easily beat Pacquiao."
Pipino Cuevas (35-15, 31 KOs), former world welterweight champion, who was active from 1971 to 1989, said he could not believe what he saw and was stunned when De La Hoya was uncapable of dodging Pacquiao's killer straights.
"He was slow and appeared bloated," he said.
Humberto "Chiquita" Gonzalez (43-3, 31 KOs), former world lightflyweight champion, who was active from 1984 to 1995, admitted he was terrified when De La Hoya missed some of his lethal blows and could not hit Pacquiao who moved his head like Mike Tyson.
Ruben "Puas" Olivares (88-13-3, 77 KOs), active from 1967 to 1988 and former world bantamweight and featherweight champion, avoided the post fight conference with Team De La Hoya. Sources said he was dismayed that De La Hoya did not put up a gallant stand and also did not show up in the post fight press conference.
Eric Gomez, De La Hoya's childhood friend, said the defeated superstar was brought to the hospital accompanied by Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaeffer "for a precautionary move."
Those who also expressed disgust and disappointment with De La Hoya's fall were former world lightweight champion Rodolfo "Gato" Gonzalez (81-7-1, 71 KOs), Juan Manuel Marquez (49-4-1, 36 KOs), who is still itching to fight Pacquiao in a trilogy, world bantamweight and super bantamweight champion champion Rafael Marquez (37-5, 33 KOs), super bantamweight champion Israel "Magnifico" Vasquez (43-4, 31 KOs), Oscar "Chololo" Larios (63-6-1, 39 KOs).
Top photo: Mexican champions were introduced by the De La Hoya camp during Wednesday's press conference. Photo by PhilBoxing.com.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Alex P. Vidal.
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