LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Floyd Mayweather Jr. wanted to give Oscar De La Hoya a beating. He had to settle for just getting a win.
Mayweather won one of boxing's richest fights ever Saturday night by using his superb defensive skills and superior speed to take a 12-round split decision and win the WBC 154-pound title in his first fight at that weight.
The fight was billed as one that would save boxing, and while it didn't do that, it was an entertaining battle between two proud champions who both fought hard from the opening bell through the end of the final round.
The fight ended with the sellout crowd on its feet roaring and two fighters trading punches wildly at the final bell. They then stopped and embraced each other.
Mayweather was favored on one scorecard 116-112 and 115-113 on a second. De La Hoya was ahead 115-113 on the third scorecard. The Associated Press had Mayweather winning 116-112.
[SIZE=-2]
[/SIZE]In the end, Mayweather was simply faster and more slippery in a bout where neither fighter managed to hurt the other and neither went down.
Ringside punching stats favored Mayweather heavily, crediting him with landing 207 of 481 punches to 122 of 587 for De La Hoya. Mayweather also landed more power punches than De La Hoya, outscoring him 138-82.
The sellout crowd of 16,200 at the MGM Grand Garden arena cheered everything De La Hoya did, and booed when the decision was announced. It was the third loss in the last five fights for De La Hoya, who also served as the promoter for the bout.
Mayweather had predicted he would dominate De La Hoya and give him a beating, but De La Hoya took his best punches and came back with enough of his own to make it a close fight. De La Hoya appeared staggered by a right hand with 20 seconds left in the fight, but finished with a flurry as the crowd erupted in delight.
Mayweather remained unbeaten in 38 fights and won a title in his fifth weight class, moving up from welterweight to challenge De La Hoya in a fight that earned De La Hoya at least $25 million and Mayweather at least $10 million. The $19 million live gate was a record for the sport, and there were predictions the pay-per-view sales would make the fight boxing's richest ever.
The money, though, didn't matter once Mayweather climbed into the ring wearing a sombrero, mocking De La Hoya's Mexican-American heritage on Cinco de Mayo. And it didn't matter once the first bell sounded and De La Hoya began his strategy of trying to box Mayweather into a corner or along the ropes.
The crowd cheered wildly every time De La Hoya got Mayweather on the ropes and flailed away. But the punches mostly missed, and Mayweather hopped away, often giving De La Hoya a parting shot to the head in the process.
Mayweather was a 2-1 favorite when the fight was made, but money poured in on De La Hoya and he was a 3-2 underdog by fight time. Still, there was no doubt who the favorite was among the crowd of celebrities and high rollers who paid $2,000 for ringside seats to watch the spectacle.
Mayweather won one of boxing's richest fights ever Saturday night by using his superb defensive skills and superior speed to take a 12-round split decision and win the WBC 154-pound title in his first fight at that weight.
The fight was billed as one that would save boxing, and while it didn't do that, it was an entertaining battle between two proud champions who both fought hard from the opening bell through the end of the final round.
The fight ended with the sellout crowd on its feet roaring and two fighters trading punches wildly at the final bell. They then stopped and embraced each other.
Mayweather was favored on one scorecard 116-112 and 115-113 on a second. De La Hoya was ahead 115-113 on the third scorecard. The Associated Press had Mayweather winning 116-112.
[SIZE=-2]
[/SIZE]In the end, Mayweather was simply faster and more slippery in a bout where neither fighter managed to hurt the other and neither went down.
Ringside punching stats favored Mayweather heavily, crediting him with landing 207 of 481 punches to 122 of 587 for De La Hoya. Mayweather also landed more power punches than De La Hoya, outscoring him 138-82.
The sellout crowd of 16,200 at the MGM Grand Garden arena cheered everything De La Hoya did, and booed when the decision was announced. It was the third loss in the last five fights for De La Hoya, who also served as the promoter for the bout.
Mayweather had predicted he would dominate De La Hoya and give him a beating, but De La Hoya took his best punches and came back with enough of his own to make it a close fight. De La Hoya appeared staggered by a right hand with 20 seconds left in the fight, but finished with a flurry as the crowd erupted in delight.
Mayweather remained unbeaten in 38 fights and won a title in his fifth weight class, moving up from welterweight to challenge De La Hoya in a fight that earned De La Hoya at least $25 million and Mayweather at least $10 million. The $19 million live gate was a record for the sport, and there were predictions the pay-per-view sales would make the fight boxing's richest ever.
The money, though, didn't matter once Mayweather climbed into the ring wearing a sombrero, mocking De La Hoya's Mexican-American heritage on Cinco de Mayo. And it didn't matter once the first bell sounded and De La Hoya began his strategy of trying to box Mayweather into a corner or along the ropes.
The crowd cheered wildly every time De La Hoya got Mayweather on the ropes and flailed away. But the punches mostly missed, and Mayweather hopped away, often giving De La Hoya a parting shot to the head in the process.
Mayweather was a 2-1 favorite when the fight was made, but money poured in on De La Hoya and he was a 3-2 underdog by fight time. Still, there was no doubt who the favorite was among the crowd of celebrities and high rollers who paid $2,000 for ringside seats to watch the spectacle.
