The fight between Oscar and Mayweather was set for May 5, 2007, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. I decided to drive the the Borgata Hotel in Atlantic City, and watch in on the big screen in a theatre they called the ‘Music Box’. I paid $35 for my ticket, had it mailed to me, which now gave me something to look forward to. Rather than sit on my recliner and watch it at home, I gladly made the hour long drive to Atlantic City to watch in on closed circuit.
I arrived 90 minutes or so before the main event, and played some slot machines to relax. It was awesome when won like $75, a lot better than losing, and going home broke. After giving back about 10 bucks, I quit and went to get some ice cream before the fight began.
Oscar started off well, was the aggressor, and consistently was landing his left jab. Mayweather did his usual thing, which was lay on the ropes, do his shoulder roll, and not throw anything back. I rooted harder for Oscar than I ever had for this one, against a guy I have more disdain for than any fighter who ever lived.
Halfway through, I had De La Hoya slightly ahead, figured if he stayed the course, he would win. Unfortunately, he simply stopped throwing punches, and started to lose rounds. As the bout neared the championship rounds, Oscar did step up his pace, and when the twelfth round ended, I though he deserved the nod. Unfortunately, the little bastard got the narrow split decision. Even his own father thought he lost, and I agreed.
On the hour long drive home, I realized how far the sport that I loved had fallen. I had become a serious fan by late 1979, and some 28 years later, the glory days were long gone. Roy Jones was still fighting, but a shell of himself. Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson and George Foreman were long retired. Personally I saw no one to carry the torch to a new generation, and sadly I was right. There will always be good fighters, but boxing is on life support as I write this more than 18 years since the bout I just wrote about. I’m grateful I got to live through boxing’s best years, and can write about those experiences as long as God gives me breath.
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