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Mayweather conquers De la Hoya

06/05/2007

Floyd Mayweather has become the WBC light middleweight champion by defeating Oscar de la Hoya in their multi-million dollar showdown in Las Vegas.

Mayweather won on a split points decision after the bout went the distance, taking it 116-112, 115-113, 113-115 on the judges' scorecards.

De la Hoya had dominated the early part of the fight and made his extra size count against Mayweather, who was fighting at light middleweight for the first time.

The defending champion threw a series of haymakers to Mayweather's body which rocked him back and meant he was unable to score with any punches himself.

However as the fight wore on De la Hoya showed signs of tiring and this gave Mayweather the opportunity to counter attack.

By the sixth round the challenger was beginning to land the more telling blows as he worked behind a strong jab, picking off De la Hoya as he continued to move forward.

De la Hoya persistently threw some heavy-looking punches but he was not connecting with enough of them, while Mayweather's work rate was earning him points with the ringside judges.

Both fighters threw wild punches in the 12th round as they desperately tried to land a decisive blow before the end but the fight always seemed destined to go to the scorecards.

There was some confusion when the participants were announced as fighting out of the opposite corner to which they were assigned but officials said the result was still correct.

Mayweather said: "It was a hell of fight but it was easy work for me. I out-punched him, I out-boxed him. He was rough, he was tough, but he couldn't beat me.

"I could see the shots coming. I stayed on the outside and made him miss. He's the best fighter of our era and I beat him."

Both men have now said they plan to retire. De la Hoya has a record of 38 wins and five losses from his 43 professional bouts while 30-year-old Mayweather is unbeaten in his 38 career fights.

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