Tuesday, September 23, 2003
I had to agree with George Foreman's summation of the recent Oscar De La Hoya-Shane Mosley title fight in Las Vegas when he called the outcome a "disgrace to boxing."
Mosley was awarded a 12-round decision in the 154-pound tussle billed as the fight of the year.
Oh, yeah. We watched the fight on pay-per-view television and the cost was not that bad when you have an audience of five or six fight fans.
At the conclusion of the fight, we were all in agreement that De La Hoya had won unanimously and that he had regained the crown won earlier by Mosley. Oscar had vowed that it was going to be different this time and it was for the most part as he had built up an early lead with his lightning-like jabs. At no time in the bout was either fighter in trouble. The only cut administered in the 12-rounder as a tiny one on Oscar due to a head butt form Mosley in the early going.
De La Hoya said he would retire if he lost the fight and that may be so, however, I can't believe he'd close out his tremendous ring career on such a sour note. He vowed to have the outcome investigated.
Maybe that old maxim of having to knock out the champion in order to win was the order of the day. Mosley seemed puzzled by Oscar's attack in the early stages and was urged by his father and trainer to start fighting because he was losing.
De La Hoya came on
Let's say that De La Hoya was not that impressive but was much more active than his opponent who did come on strong in the last four rounds after Oscar had built up the early lead.
I couldn't believe my eyes or my ears when it was announced that Mosley had won the decision. All of the ring announcers also were in disbelief and said they must have been watching a different fight.
The only consolation I had was the bout wasn't over in the first round. A quick KO by either party would have really hurt after dishing out the funds to watch "the fight of the year."
I've watched hundreds of fights during my lifetime, however, this is one that will linger with disbelief for years to come. Oscar didn't seem all that upset with the decision and said he wanted to show the fans that "I could still fight."
It was not one of Oscar's top performances and Mosley's showing was even less impressive.
The topper was the fight's starting time. I knew it was going to be a late one since they were fighting in Vegas. It was after 11 p.m. when the two finally stepped into the ring. My wallet was empty, the fight was lousy, I lost a night's sleep and I had a headache. Can't wait until the next one.
Matune is medalist
For the second time in his collegiate career, sophomore John Matune walked off with medalist honors for the Westminster College golf team.
Matune, a product of Kennedy Catholic High School, fired a 71 to lead the Titans to victory in the 10-team Pitt-Greensburg Invitational at Latrobe's Glengarry Golf Course.
The Titans fired a team total of 300 to defeat second-place Saint Vincent by 11 strokes.