Delay, Date and Switch

By Bart Barry

Then Oscar decided not to fight or retire. He promised to do both, eventually, but said now is not the right time for either. That happened last Wednesday. On a conference call attended by more than a hundred media personnel, Oscar de la Hoya announced he would not fight on September 16, 2006 and probably wouldn’t retire until after May 5, 2007. He also said Floyd Mayweather is the only opponent who interests him. Oscar looks forward to fighting Floyd, just not this year.

Not too long ago – last May 5th, come to think of it – Floyd Mayweather bumped into Antonio Margarito at a Las Vegas superfight and told Mr. Margarito that he looked forward to fighting him. Just not right away. The time wasn’t ripe enough for Floyd to fight Antonio because Floyd had a more lucrative match in mind.

That weekend, of course, Oscar knocked out Ricardo Mayorga – and put a more lucrative match in everyone’s mind. It would be Oscar de la Hoya versus Floyd Mayweather on September 16th. In a fight that would break every non-heavyweight pay-per-view record, Oscar de la Hoya would end his prizefighting career by decisioning, or being decisioned by, Floyd Mayweather – and both would earn enormous purses.

¿Por qué el 16 de Septiembre? Because on that day, 196 years ago, a Catholic priest named Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla beseeched his congregation to kill the Spaniards and praise the Virgin of Guadalupe – launching the first Mexican Revolution. September 16th, then, is Mexican Independence Day. In the annals of boxing promotion, September 16th weekend is also when Oscar de la Hoya first used a ploy known as the Date & Switch.

Last September 17th, promoter Top Rank had hoped to continue bidding farewell to Mexican hero Julio Cesar Chavez on a pay-per-view broadcast, when Oscar de la Hoya informed HBO that he also wanted to fight on that day. Recognizing the better business idea, HBO reserved the date for Oscar’s Golden Boy Promotions.

But as that day drew nigh, Oscar announced he’d not be fighting. No worries, though; Golden Boy Promotions had a different Mexican hero who’d fill in. And so, Marco Antonio Barrera fought Robbie Peden last September 17th, on HBO pay-per-view, while Top Rank’s “Adios Phoenix” show became a free broadcast on TV Azteca. September 17th was the Date, and Barrera-for-Oscar was the Switch.

Any guesses who’ll be filling in for Oscar this September 16th? In what will actually be a better fight than Oscar-Floyd would have been, Marco Antonio Barrera will make a rematch with Rocky Juarez. So far, we’ve not heard any further Date & Switch accusations from Top Rank or its chief, Bob Arum.

That’s because, in light of Oscar’s decision not to fight again this year, Mr. Arum has instead used his time to draw up a contract for Floyd Mayweather: $8,000,000.00 and Antonio Margarito on October 7th. Offered eight million dollars to undress a one-dimensional Mexican brawler, Floyd Mayweather, boxing’s best pound-for-pound fighter, then signed the fight contract straight away.

Not quite. Having recently bought back his promotional contract from Top Rank – mostly to make himself available for a fight with Oscar, but at least partially to avoid fighting Antonio – Floyd made no such move. Instead he chatted about possible fights with the winner of Mosley-Vargas, the winner of Baldomir-Gatti, or Ricky Hatton. Then Antonio Margarito got a cursory mention; but he was hardly atop Floyd’s list.

Is this because Floyd is afraid of Antonio? Yes and no. While it is doubtful that Floyd Mayweather fears losing to Antonio Margarito, it’s quite reasonable that Floyd fears what consequences would come if he did. And here’s another fear that deserves mention: If Floyd fights Antonio, win or lose, Floyd will get hurt. Antonio Margarito is much more than a one-dimensional Mexican brawler, and Floyd knows it.

A better idea for Floyd Mayweather, the self-named entrepreneur, is to hope Carlos Baldomir beats Arturo Gatti next month. HBO will probably give Floyd four million dollars to make a fight with the WBC welterweight champ, and if Floyd beats Carlos Baldomir he’ll still be in fine shape for a Cinco de Mayo superfight with Oscar de la Hoya. And if Floyd loses to Baldomir? Floyd won’t lose to Baldomir.

Where, then, does all this maneuvering leave Antonio Margarito?

“We don’t know. We don’t have a Plan B, right now. We’re waiting for Mayweather,” said Antonio’s manager, Sergio Diaz, last Saturday. “Top Rank guaranteed [Floyd] eight million plus some upside. So it’s possible Mayweather could make nine or even ten million. But Mayweather’s afraid to fight Tony.”

Chances are good that Oscar’s afraid to see Floyd fight Tony, too. If Floyd Mayweather were to take the October 7th fight with Antonio Margarito, Floyd’s reign as boxing’s best fighter could end. So, too, could Oscar de la Hoya’s career – unless Oscar wanted to make a retirement match with Antonio.

If Floyd fights Antonio, he’ll make eight million dollars, raise his status somewhat and risk his perfect record, his health, and about twice as much money for a May fight with Oscar de la Hoya. So then, Sergio Diaz, how hopeful can you be that Mayweather-Margarito will happen on October 7th?

“I’d put it at 75-percent that it won’t. Top Rank called us last week, and Tony told them, ‘I’m in, just like the last time.’ I’d put it at 75-percent the fight won’t happen. But we still have that 25-percent chance it will.”

Floyd Mayweather now has a decision to make. If he continues to delay a fight with Antonio Margarito and forgives Oscar de la Hoya’s latest Date & Switch, Floyd could well become, pound-for-pound, boxing’s second-best businessman. But with Bernard Hopkins beating Antonio Tarver and Winky Wright drawing with Jermain Taylor and Manny Pacquiao about to fight Oscar Larios and Marco Antonio Barrera preparing for a rematch with Rocky Juarez, will any serious person still call Floyd Mayweather the best pound-for-pound fighter?

SAND BOX
After an unseemly drought at the end of last year, Sonora Desert has had a plentiful spring of prizefighting. In the last ten weeks, Arizona has hosted five championship cards. In the month of June, Top Rank promoted nationally televised shows in Tucson and Nogales. And next Friday at Desert Diamond Casino, Arizona makes its third June appearance on Telefutura’s invaluable “Solo Boxeo” program, when Golden Boy Promotions features WBO light-flyweight champion Hugo Cazares. All Arizonans are encouraged to attend, helping to keep our sport alive in the desert.