BOXING: An interview with Oscar De La Hoya and Arturo Gatti

One of the most celebrated boxers in history, Oscar De La Hoya, makes his long-awaited return to the ring on Saturday, March 24, at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino - The City of Entertainment. The Golden Boy, who has won five world titles in four weight classes, will face former International Boxing Federation (IBF) champion Arturo Gatti in a 12-round welterweight bout. MGM Grand Hotel/Casino will host the fight card, promoted by Univision Sports in association with Main Events, Inc.

Oscar De La Hoya (32-2, 26 KOs): "I have been training and doing my thing. I will be spending about three months up in the mountains with my new trainer (Floyd Mayweather Sr). Man, is he a trainer. He has been teaching me everything. He has been giving me this confidence that I have never had before. He has been taking me to a different level and bringing out the best of me. He has got me using my right hand, throwing all kinds of combinations. Stamina has always been my No. 1 problem, but not anymore. I am very positive that the world titles that I have had, I have been winning on natural talent. I thank the trainers that I have had before. They did a great job. Mayweather is incredible. It is the confidence that when I step inside that ring, inside that gym, I want to train, I want to learn. If I am not ready, he (Mayweather) will smack me across the head. I need that. That is good. It is going to be a very interesting fight. I am here to win. I am going to come out with a great style, great aggressiveness, good defense. I am learning a lot in the gym. Gatti comes out to fight. He is a warrior. I will have everything on my side to put on a good show and a good fight."

"This is such an important fight. I know people will be watching me with a microscope, to see what I have left. If I have anything left. I want to clear one thing up. I was never retired. I was just on a little vacation to regroup, so I could relax physically and mentally, and to see what I really want in boxing. What I really want is to make history, to be in a class all by myself. This is my last fight at 147 pounds. After this, I want to move up to 154 pounds, eventually go up to 160."

"I want to avenge both my losses, hopefully this year while I still have the momentum. I know it all has to happen before I am 30-years-old because I will not be fighting after that. There is no reason. Since Felix Trinidad was the first to beat me, I would like to fight him first, then "Sugar" Shane Mosley. Trinidad says he is going up to 160 and Mosley is at 147, but the dollar signs will make Trinidad comeback down in weight to 154, or make Mosley move up. I have no desire to fight Fernando Vargas. He still needs to prove himself. He sure has not proven himself to me. I have been facing the best. I am going to face the best. Hopefully, everything will come out good. It is going to be a really good fight."

"This fight is going to happen. We have everything set. The MGM Grand has been kind to us. We have been working well together. This is a real fight."

Floyd Mayweather, Sr. (De La Hoya’s Trainer) "I am taking De La Hoya through a lot of changes. We are not worried about Gatti. Gatti is a piece of meat because he fights with his face, not with his fists. I am the best defensive trainer in the world and I am teaching De La Hoya those skills. De La Hoya will not have any problem with Gatti. What we are going to do with Gatti is put a swivel on the top of his head, hang him up and use him for a punching bag. De La Hoya does not have to take the fight. I will take the fight and I will beat you (Gatti) myself. I will whoop you myself."

Arturo Gatti (33-4, 27 KOs): "I hope people continue to think that I have no chance. The perception is that I am just a wild slugger, but I can box too. My plan in this fight is to box and be smart. In most of my other fights, I have just been able to utilize my power and walk through guys. I think people are in for a real surprise."

Howard Rose (Univision Sports) "On behalf of Univision Sports, we are very excited to be a part of this event. I personally want to thank both of the fighters. Hope to see you all at the MGM Grand. I think you are going to see a very exciting evening."

Richard Sturm (President of MGM Grand.Mirage) "We are very excited to be hosting the return of De La Hoya to the MGM Grand, the city of entertainment. Over the past seven years, MGM Grand has hosted some of the biggest events in the history of show business, entertainment and sports. We are sure this event will continue that tradition."

Gary Shaw (Chief Executive Officer of Main Events) "I know you are going to see an action-packed fight. One of the nice things about being here is the ability to showcase Arturo Gatti. The only mistake so far in the promotion is that they called it "Oscar night" because it may be Gatti’s day and night. We are not coming here for a payday. We are not coming here to lose. We are coming here to win. I do not know how long this fight will last."

Question: Can you discuss the contract with HBO?

Howard Rose (Univision Sports): The fight has been offered to HBO. The offer remains open.

Question: Oscar, who would be next for you if you defeat Gatti?

De La Hoya: I have not even thought about who would be next for me. I am focusing only on Gatti. I am thinking of no one else except Gatti. This is unlike other times when I made mistakes, or other promoters have made mistakes lining me up with different fighters for the future."

Question: Oscar, how would you compare Mayweather Sr. to your past trainers?

De La Hoya: Mayweather Sr. has taught me more in three weeks than I have learned in eight years. I am experiencing it. I am noticing it. There is more where that came from. He has combinations that you would never think of. To every combination, there is a defense. If I do not keep my hands up, he will knock me out. It is good. I am excited. There is a new fire that I have in me because of Mayweather. I eventually want to go up to 154 pounds and even 160 when the time is right to fight whomever. It does not really matter. That is the confidence he instills in me. That is what he is teaching me, all the moves, the experience for whatever situation that happens inside of that ring. If I have to fight 15 rounds, he will make sure I am ready. That is the way he trains. I am re-motivated. It is like that everyday. I run, chop my wood, it is incredible. That is why I am so happy training with him.

Question: Oscar, how is your weight right now?

De La Hoya: I weigh 158 pounds right now.

Question: Oscar, is Mayweather working on your right hand and your jab?

De La Hoya: A lot of people say I have no right hand. You will see a right hand. After this fight, people will probably forget about the left hook and focus on the right hand because that is how much I will be throwing it. The power is there and Mayweather is definitely bringing it out.

Question: Oscar, are you planning on continuing to sing?

De La Hoya: I am focusing on boxing right now. I have completed my CD and have done what I had to do in the time off that I had. I did my music videos and there are going to release them. I am not going to do more work with music right now until I capture my world title in boxing, until I get back on top of the world where I was before. That is my goal. That is where this man (Mayweather) is going to take me.

Question: Oscar, why did you decide to change trainers after eight years?

De La Hoya: I work very hard in everything I do. Every time I step inside the gym, I give it my all. I train hard. I am a very dedicated fighter. When everything is fine and dandy and you are throwing good combinations and it looks beautiful, it looks really nice and it sounds good. You do not think about whether you are learning or not, stepping up to the next level. When I first hit the mitts with Mayweather, I noticed a big difference. I noticed that I was actually learning with him. I was actually using punches that I had never used before. I was throwing punches that I did not even know of. I did not know that I could roll punches off of my shoulders with no problem. It is little details that are incredible. With all respect to Robert Alcazar, he was my trainer and a friend for a long time. This is a business. I have to learn. I want to get back on top of the world, on top of the boxing game. I am positive Mayweather will take me there.

Question: Arturo, how well did you heal from the swelling and cutting in your last fight?

Gatti: De La Hoya is a great fighter. For this fight, I have to use my intelligence. I am a great fighter. De La Hoya is going to bring the best out of me. I just have to watch myself and be smart. I am going to have to fight with my head, not my fists this time.

Hector Rocha (Gatti’s Trainer): De La Hoya is one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. We have to be ready in every way. We are going to try everything we can to win this fight.

Article provided courtesy of boxinginsider.com