LIVE BLOGGING: KEEP REFRESHING FOR ROUND BY ROUND: The Mexican National anthem was followed by Marc Anthony, who just wrapped singing the US National Anthem, bravo and good job.
Mexican-American boxer Oscar De La Hoya (L), and American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. pose for photographers following a press conference at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas Nevada on 02 May 2007. Mayweather and De La Hoya will fight for the WBC super welterweight championship on 05 May in Las Vegas. EPA/Laura Rauch
Now Mayweather enters the ring wearing a Mexican sombrero and Mexican colors as an in your face psychological move to a 50 Cent song- total disrespect intended.
Stars are everywhere the camera lands, from the UK and the US, Tom Jones, P. Diddy, John Cusack, Jack Nicholson, Wesley Snipes, Lennox Lewis, John McCain, Ron Howard, Leonardo DiCaprio, Wladimir Klitschko, Tobey Maguire, Jim Carrey. What an exciting night in Las Vegas.
De La Hoya enters-class act-to the strains of a Mexican song. Michael Buffer emcees the event and no one announces boxing better. Kenny Bayliss is the referee. Let's get ready to rumble!!!!
Buffer announces from Grand Rapids Michigan- Floyd Mayweather-the reigning pound for pound fighter in the world.
Buffer has become one of the most recognized faces in the world of sports entertainment thanks to his 20 plus years of announcing many of the biggest boxing events. "Let's get ready to rumble!" is a registered trademark in the United States.
Red corner, from East Los Angeles, the reigning 2x super-welter-weight champion De La Hoya is annouced.
Larry Merchant mused "will we get spontaneous combustion?" He, Jim Lampley and Emanuel Steward are calling the fight for HBO. These guys are all a good fit together.
Round One: Chants of "Oscar" fill the MGM..both are proceeding cautiously, De La Hoya is looking for an opening, Mayweather is throwing masterful jabs..
Camera pans to Oscar's Puerto Rican wife. The corners are eavesdropped by HBO cameras..
Round two: Oscar lands a punch, lands a jab accross the top, another right hand, Floyd steps back,De La Hoya is peppering Mayweather now with tight right hands..the announcers say De La Hoya is winning this round..chants of "Oscar" build-Mayweather lands a straight right hand, Oscar jabs, exciting round.
Floyd Mayweather Sr. observing ringside-mixed emotions. A bit of backstory: The relationship between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and his father has been strained, and Mayweather Sr. has been Oscar De La Hoya's trainer for 6 years. Floyd Sr. asked for 2 million bucks to train De La Hoya for this fight and it was turned down by Oscar. So many people wondered whether Mayweather Sr. would be rooting for De La Hoya to beat his own son tonight.
It's not clear who Mayweather Sr. is rooting for, but he is sitting in a seat provided by De La Hoya, not by Mayweather Jr. Apparently both Oscar and Floyd Jr. offered Floyd Sr. a ticket and a hotel room in Vegas, and Floyd Sr. took up Oscar's offer, not his son's. Merchant gets him to say "blood is thicker than mud.." so take it from there.
Larry Merchant interviewed Mayweather Sr. on HBO, he was vague with Larry, another odd twist on tonight's fight.
Round three: Floyd pummeled by De La Hoya-Floyd on the ropes..De La Hoya is on a mission..Mayweather lands a straight right lead..Another..left hook lead..Oscar is hanging back..on the table..De La Hoya tries to nail Mayweather on the ropes.
Lederman says Mayweather is leading so far (HBO's analyst)
Round four: Mayweather wins this round, energized,
Round five: Mayweather comes out strong, De La Hoya seems tired to HBO announcers..they are concerned about his energy levels..close fight says Merchant..Lampley says he feel the urgency for De La Hoya to get in some jabs..Oscar lands a right cross across the top..Floyd has Oscar on defensive..trying to knock Oscar out with a right hand..good round.
Round six: stats show Mayweather has the edge-Lampley says his faster hands are showing in the numbers..Oscar trying hard to get to the body..Floyd against the ropes, Oscar going for his ribcage..Floyd jabbing like crazy..Oscar ducking and weaving..Mayweather getting sloppy..Oscar lands right hand..good round for Oscar here..De La Hoya mounting mini-comeback here in fight says Lampley..Oscar wins this round.
Round seven: 58-56 Floyd still winner according to HBO-Crowd goes wild..Oscar throws a flurry of jabs, crowd is nuts..Cautious Floyd now..lands two right hand shots..good body shot by Mayweather.hammers Oscar..De La Hoya trying to pressure pressure pressure..what a round!
Round eight: Larry Merchant is musing about the fight..Oscar back out..Lampley says Oscar has to keep up the jab momentum...flurry of jabs from Oscar..setting up the assault..Floyd counters accurately..Floyd is jabbing, Oscar cautious..crowd chants "Oscar"..Floyd cannot land a punch, Oscar focused, energetic, Floyd is against ropes Oscar is beating the shit out of him-bell rings-Lampley says it is an even fight.
Round nine: HBO guys are saying it is an even fight so far. Oscar peppering Floyd, both are cautious..Oscar has him up against the ropes, Floyd is getting it..Floyd ducks.."urgency now" says Merchant..Oscar tries to land right hand.."Oscar very aggressive" says Manny..difficult to score
Round ten: Oscar looks frustrated in his corner..87-84 says Lederman from HBO..Floyd looks mean..jabs are landing..Floyd is really going for it, Oscar guarding..waiting..bad round for Oscar..Floyd acting like he is tired of Oscar hanging back..fight beginning to turn in Floyd's direction says Lampley.
Round eleven: Lampley takes on memory lane with Oscar's fight record..11 lucky in past for him..Oscar has to step it up now..Oscar is going for it-right hand lands..again..hand speed difference more and more apparent..Mayweather operating like a surgeon..body shot by De La Hoya..Merchant disappointed by the hype of this fight..Oscar is totally confused right now says Manny..Oscar in corner -looks pissed..
Round twelve: Okay here we go-the crowd on their feet-Oscar needs a KO..Oscar has Floyd against ropes but Floyd moves fast..Lampley says Oscar stopped jabbing in round 8, and the fight has turned to Floyd's..Oscar flurries some body shots..Lampley says Oscar will not go gently..finale flurry of punches but Oscar out punched by Mayweather..crowd is booing a bit..now cheering Oscar..
Lampley going on about how everyone can be proud.
Michael Buffer announces the scores from the judges:
Judge Tommy-115-113 De La Hoya
Judge Chuck-116-112 Mayweather
Judge Jerry-115-113-Mayweather
Mayweather wins the belt.
Under card fighters:
Undefeated Filipino super bantamweight Rey Bautista (22-0, 17 KOs) and Argentina's Sergio Manuel Medina (28-0, 16 KOs) meeting in a 12-round WBO elimination match.
Bautista wins
Houston's Rocky Juarez (26-3, 19 KOs) against Jose Hernandez (22-3, 14 KOs) in a 10-round featherweight encounter..
Juarez wins
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