ROACH PREDICTS DE LA HOYA BY KO

Columns

Canelo Demands $100 Million for Crawford Rematch

By Dong Secuya

When fight figures cross into nine-digit guarantees, the conversation usually turns cynica…

Celebrated two-time ?Trainer of the Year? Freddie Roach said yesterday that the ?Golden Boy? Oscar De La Hoya will ?knock this guy (Floyd Mayweather Jr) out late in the fight? when they clash in ?The World Awaits? mega fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, Manila Time.

Roach dispelled claims that De La Hoya had a tendency to fade in the late rounds saying ?he is in great shape, had a great training camp? adding that he had found the problem and made the necessary adjustments.

Roach admitted that De La Hoya would have ?a tough beginning and will try to get through him and break him down. This is going to be the rough part of the fight but after we break him down it will get easier and easier and Oscar?s strength and power will take over.?

Roach disclosed that he would personally make sure that nothing controversial takes place in the wrapping of the hands of Mayweather. Golden Boy Promotions vice president Eric Gomez said Roach will watch over the taping of Mayweather?s hands to make sure that everything was above board. There was no indication that someone from the Mayweather camp will watch as De La Hoya has his hands taped.

There have been reports in the past that some fighters place plaster of paris on the tape so that it hardens once it gets wet adding power to the punches.

Mayweather, for his part insisted that he was the best fighter in the world today in what amounted to am abrasive exchange with some journalists which was spiced up with profane language and vicious allegations about De La Hoya. Mayweather said he was not worried about De La Hoya but that De La Hoya was concerned about him and that he was not jealous of the Golden Boy despite all the attention he gets from the media and the fans.