Boxing’s brightest star Oscar De La Hoya is back in the ring tonight in a 12-round tune up fight against Steve Forbes on HBO. Oscar De La Hoya vs Steve Forbes is ultimately a showcase bout for De La Hoya, 38-5, 30 KO’s, who will be fighting a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr. September 20th win, lose or draw. Online sportsbook BodogLife.com has Oscar De La Hoya a heavy favorite at –2000 betting odds against Steve Forbes +1000.
Oscar is 35-years old which is usually the age of the inevitable downward slope of modern day prizefighters. With his one bout per year fighting schedule, Oscar usually has to work his way back into fighting shape, rather than staying in top condition year round. Even though father time is ticking on the “Golden Boy” Oscar proved himself to be among boxing’s pound-4-pound elite with his razor thin loss to pound-4-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr.
For the overachieving, smooth boxing Steve Forbes, 33-5, 9 KO’s, it is the opportunity to show that he belongs in the upper-tier class of boxers. Forbes will be facing major disadvantages in size, power and big-fight experience against De La Hoya. Forbes,30, has a tricky, smart boxing style that can give Oscar some problems, but he might not have enough artillery to gain the steel jawed De La Hoya’s respect. Forbes says that his plan is to outwork Oscar and give him problems with movement and hand speed.
At the weigh-in De La Hoya looked ripped and in peak condition but his stamina has always been a weakness so Forbes should be able to fight at a brisk pace. Forbes has endured a long productive training camp with Jeff Mayweather in Las Vegas so he is coming in sharp. Forbes has never been on the floor in his boxing career, but he was badly rocked against average punching Nick Acevedo, so he is mortal.
Many key fight questions heading into Oscar De La Hoya vs. Steve Forbes. Is Oscar overconfident? Will Forbes rise to the occasion and deliver the fight of his life? Will Oscar be aggressive in an effort to score a KO to hype his fight with Mayweather? Will Forbes try to just survive wants he feels the “Golden Boy’s” heavy hands?
Expert Boxing Handicapper Brad Marchetti has been red hot with his boxing betting picks and he has solid move available on the Oscar De La Hoya vs Steve Forbes Fight that you do not want to miss!
