Oscar De La Hoya says things have changed since he lost a decision to Felix Trinidad last September. His words, however, haven’t changed much.
De La Hoya, on a conference call from his training facility in Big Bear, Calif., yesterday said his conditioning will be the biggest factor to his success against “Sugar” Shane Mosley June 17 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
The Golden Boy (32-1, 26 KOs), though, said much of the same things before he fought Trinidad. What’s different? He says that he’s learned from losing.
The WBC welterweight champ says that the loss to Trinidad helped him get his priorities in order.
“I think that decision helped me re-focus and dedicate myself,” De La Hoya said. “It was a blessing in disguise. I was getting lazy. I was getting tired. I was just training enough to beat a guy. Now I’m training to beat a guy decisively.”
De La Hoya promises “to be very aggressive” and “attack” Mosley (34-0, 32 KOs).
“When I have a fast fighter, it makes me want to throw faster,” De La Hoya said. “When I have a strong fighter, it makes me want to throw stronger. I think great fighters bring out the best in me. I’m looking forward to this.”
De La Hoya and Mosley are both from southern California. De La Hoya doesn’t buy into the hometown hype, but rather is focusing on Mosley’s skills.
“I rate his speed from one to 10 a 10,” De La Hoya said. “I rate his power a 10. He’s an all-around great fighter.”
Mosley’s only weakness, according to De La Hoya, is his [lack of] “experience.”
“Even though he has 34 fights,” De La Hoya said, “the same experience I have is just not there.”


