Hopkins - De La Hoya

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Hopkins -240

De La Hoya +200

Those are big odds, but if not for Oscar's reputation, the number would be something like Hopkins -800. Oscar has just about zero chance of winning this fight. He would have to run every round and then get hooked up with a crooked decision. Not that I haven't seen worse things happen.

Vs

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[Mtbrncofn]

Who won? I am not a big boxing fan, but I like to keep up with it somewhat. I saw De La Hoya flappin his gums on ESPN the other day about how good he was. Never been a fan of his anway. He's like the Meshawn of boxing.

[WaffleBoy]

Hopkins wins by TKO in the 9th.

The Boy Wonder

[Mtbrncofn]

He lasted that long, huh?

Good for Hopkins.

I wonder when the Golden Boy title becomes passe.

[-Slap-]

Hopkins stopped him with a body shot. Incredibly rare for a world class fighter to get knocked out from a blow to the body.

Tons of late De La Hoya money drove the number down from the opening line of Hopkins -265. I saw it go as low as Hopkins -172, but didn't pull the trigger. I finally settled for -182 a couple hours before fight time.

The real value was the over/under. I got under 11 1/2 rounds at +165 and smiled when a bunch of under money come in to drive it to +145. Still, I started to get an uneasy feeling that Hopkins might settle for a decision and I was thrilled when the fight ended so abruptly.

In truth, Hopkins was calmly in control throughout. He guided Oscar into the middle rounds where he knew the smaller man's stamina would wane and then he just turned up the heat. A very patient and professional effort by the Executioner.

Now I have to avoid giving it all back on the NFL action tomorrow.

[Breck Bronc]

Slap, how was the fight on the entertainment scale? Sounds like it was a predictable fight without any fireworks.

[TexanBob]

I wonder if Hopkins broke one of Oscar's ribs. I've never seen a professional fighter just collapse like that from a shot to the mid-section. You would have thought this was fixed if you saw the ending in real time. It seemed like a phantom punch. But on replay you see Hopkins smash the side of his rib cage and then give him a little shove and he went down and doubled over. It was clear the way Oscar was writhing around on the canvas that he wasn't getting up.

I wonder how many more times this pretty boy is going to ask to get his ass whooped again by Hopkins. Hasn't he learned his lesson yet?

[-Slap-]

Originally Posted by Breck Bronc

Slap, how was the fight on the entertainment scale? Sounds like it was a predictable fight without any fireworks.

I'm going based on my friend's description of the action. I had another obligation tonight, so I balked at boning out $55 on a fight I might not get to see live. My man knows boxing thoroughly, though and I trust his word. He gave me blow by blow accounts over the phone and he had plenty of time to describe just about every punch, if that gives you any idea of the pace of the action for most of the fight. They were only landing about 8-10 punches a round through seven rounds, but Hopkins seemed to be landing the more telling blows. He also seemed to be very relaxed and not even winded. By contrast, Oscar was puffing up a bit around the eyes by round three and looking tight and nervous in his corner.

I kind of figured Hopkins would bring Oscar to the later rounds where he typically runs out of steam and that's when Hopkins intensified the pace a little, but the knockout itself came out of nowhere. I think it was probably a kidney punch, based on the way Oscar was complaining afterwards. Not that I care. Roberto Duran kneed Kenny Buchanan in the balls one night at Madison Square Garden, and you know something? It was the right thing to do.

In retrospect, winning money on this fight and not having to pay for it was the best of both worlds.

[Breck Bronc]

Originally Posted by -Slap-

I'm going based on my friend's description of the action. I had another obligation tonight, so I balked at boning out $55 on a fight I might not get to see live. My man knows boxing thoroughly, though and I trust his word. He gave me blow by blow accounts over the phone and he had plenty of time to describe just about every punch, if that gives you any idea of the pace of the action for most of the fight. They were only landing about 8-10 punches a round through seven rounds, but Hopkins seemed to be landing the more telling blows. He also seemed to be very relaxed and not even winded. By contrast, Oscar was puffing up a bit around the eyes by round three and looking tight and nervous in his corner.

I kind of figured Hopkins would bring Oscar to the later rounds where he typically runs out of steam and that's when Hopkins intensified the pace a little, but the knockout itself came out of nowhere. I think it was probably a kidney punch, based on the way Oscar was complaining afterwards. Not that I care. Roberto Duran kneed Kenny Buchanan in the balls one night at Madison Square Garden, and you know something? It was the right thing to do.

In retrospect, winning money on this fight and not having to pay for it was the best of both worlds.

Gracias.

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Originally Posted by Breck Bronc

Gracias.

De nada.

[flair]

I'm glad Hopkins won . What I hate about boxing is how they pay the fighters. I really wish the winner got the big purse and the loser get the second.