Boxing: Boxing: Mayorga wants De La Hoya next

Associated Press - July 13, 2003


LAS VEGAS (AP) - Ricardo Mayorga, a fun-loving, free-spirited brawler, is looking for somebody new to mix it up with.

And he's hoping that person will be Oscar De La Hoya.

``My purpose right now is to fight Oscar De La Hoya. Honestly, I dislike him,'' Mayorga said, speaking through an interpreter. ``I will fight in any weight class.''

Mayorga beat Vernon Forrest for the second time in less than six months on Saturday night, taking a majority decision to successfully defend his WBC and WBA welterweight titles. In January, Mayorga stopped Forrest in the third round.

The 29-year-old boxer from Managua, Nicaragua, was impressive in both fights against the former WBC champion, although one judge scored the rematch a draw and another had Mayorga winning by one point. The other judge favored him 116-112.

Before he lost to Mayorga last Jan. 25 in Temecula, California, Forrest had beaten Shane Mosley in successive bouts. Mosley beat De La Hoya in a 12-round decision in 2000 in Los Angeles.

De La Hoya first has a rematch with Mosley scheduled for Sept. 13.

Forrest was undefeated in 35 bouts going into his first meeting with Mayorga. In their second fight, Forrest succeeded only in going the distance.

During the first match, Forrest tried to slug it out and didn't make it past three rounds. He circled and jabbed in the rematch.

With more hand speed and strength than finesse, Mayorga relentlessly stalked him, rocked him several times but couldn't put him down.

``I would have looked better if he had traded punches with me,'' Mayorga said. ``It's hard to look good when you're doing so much chasing.''

Judge Ove Oveson scored it 116-112 for Mayorga, and Larry O'Connell had Mayorga winning 115-114. Jerry Roth scored it 114-114.

``I proved that the first time I beat him wasn't a fluke. I proved that I could take a punch and go 12 rounds,'' the champion said.

Mayorga even gave Forrest a couple of free shots at his face in the fourth round.

After Forrest landed a stiff jab, Mayorga lowed his gloves and stuck his chin out. Forrest hit him with a couple of quick combinations, but Mayorga hardly flinched. Then he went after Forrest, landing blows as Forrest slipped away on the ropes.

The crowd at the Orleans Hotel Arena stood and cheered wildly.

By the 11th round, he already was holding up his arms in triumph.

He did have some kind words for Forrest, who did not speak to reporters after his loss.

``He fought a lot better this time,'' Mayorga said. ``He could have beaten most welterweights.''

Mayorga improved his record to 25-1-3, with one no-contest and 22 knockouts. Forrest is 35-2, with 26 knockouts.

mayorga may be good but i say bring it...de la hoya will whoop his ass

Originally posted by Osobad28
mayorga may be good but i say bring it...de la hoya will whoop his ass

Yeah I agree. I think De la Hoya would win a fight with Mayorga if they ever get in the ring.

Did anyone think Forrest may have shaded that fight? I had him in front before the last three rounds and I certainly think the fight was alot closer than the four rounds one judge scored it.

I thought forrest may have done enough to win it.....

As for De La Hoya he should take Mayorga out...

Forrest definately LOST that fight. I was scoring the bout at home and I had Mayorga winning by Unanimous descision. All Forrest did was run away from Mayorga practicaly the whole fight. You cant take a Champion's Title by running away. You have to beat him for it. Just ask De la Hoya when he lost to Trinidad by descision because he ran the second half of the fight.

Agree and disagree, scoring depends entirely on the judge in question, some will look for agressions, the others actual scoring punches. In my opinion you do have to take the title from the champion, and you should be the aggressor during the contest.

I thought Mayorga won the fight, but there wasn't more than two rounds to choose between them.