Who Will Feed Off Oscar’s $oup Line In 2008?
 The Golden Boy Has A Good Idea Who Will Feast

By William Trillo
Foto Folly: Bret "The Threat" Newton
 

The Miguel Cotto vs. Shane Mosley match-up is without a doubt the hottest fight to come around the bend this pre-holiday season, but with all the anticipation of that Welterweight brawl, it’s the plans of Co-promoter/Fighter Oscar De La Hoya that seems to be the most asked question at the “Fast & Furious” press conferences this week.


In his surprisingly open answers the Golden Boy not only reveals what his plans are for 2008, but if one takes the liberty to read between the lines it’s apparent who Oscar thinks will be victorious tonight and who will come out on top this December 8th in the widely popular intercontinental Title bout between another set of belt wearing 147 pounders, Ricky Hatton and Floyd Mayweather Jr.

De La Hoya feels his wife’s concerns about fighting her fellow Puerto Rican Cotto are honorable but not necessarily practical and it appears Oscar may have tipped his hand on who he thinks will have his hand raised in victory tonight at MSG, "Millie is my wife and I love her and respect her. Her opinion has a big value for me, but when it's about my career and the sport that I also love and I have to fight against the very best in the world and it happens to be Cotto. When the time comes, I will have to step up to the ring and do it".

 Translated, De La Hoya believes Cotto will come out on top tonight and you can pencil him as one opponent for his swan song year of 2008.
 
Top Rank’s Bob Arum who just happens to be Cotto’s promoter had no problem helping out if Oscar can’t get by Millie’s Boricuan dilemma saying,"If the nationality (of Cotto) starts to be a burden we're ready to apply for Miguel's Israeli citizenship."
 
Now, since Oscar said he will fight two times in 2008, with the first fight being around May 5th his traditional 'Cinco de Mayo' fight day, while the second bout will fall close Mexican Independence day in mid September, simple math tells you there is one slot to fill.

 Most experts would tell you the winner of Hatton vs. Mayweather should be the likely choice. But before you think Floyd has a shot at a rematch remember that Oscar described his “World Awaits” bout as nothing more than a sparring session, so win, lose or draw Oscar will take a page out of Jerry Seinfelds sitcom when he turns into “The Soup Nazi” as he tells Floyd, “No soup for you!”
 
As it turns out it appears Oscar really isn’t convinced Ricky can beat Floyd in that December sparring session and is on record saying, "I think that it's more possible to fight Hatton in May if he's able to win or at least make a difficult fight to score against Mayweather".

 Translated, Floyd is going to prance around and get another boring victory, this time over Hatton, but De La Hoya will serve up a bowl of Mulligatani for the Liverpudlian in a bout that still may end up across the pond.

 Tonight’s contest is a toss up with Mosley still being the slight underdog and it appears Oscar leans towards the favorite Cotto, if you read between the lines that is, and quite frankly I have to agree.
 
I think it’s going to be a real battle with Shane taking the early rounds but Cotto will turn this thing around midway through and should stop Mosley before the final bell sounds.
 
And order up a bowl of Tortilla Soup for me and hold it until May 5th 2008, unless of course Oscar ends up in England that weekend, in which case I will pack up a couple of cans of Yankee Bean.



Questions Or Comments? Email Will "The Thrill" Trillo