De La Hoya means well but can't be Mayweather's guiding light

Oscar de la Hoya parceled out some worthwhile comments about beleaguered Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Wednesday in Los Angeles.

The Golden Boy said that the emotionally imbalanced Mayweather and drug and booze addled Ricky Hatton both deserve support, not condemnation.

And Oskie suggested that both of them could benefit by getting back to work, doing what theu do best which is boxing.

I don't doubt Oskie's good intentions despite the fact that he and his company might profit from a ring return by one or both of the fighters.

But, and now I'll confine myself to Mayweather, Oscar's advice will go in one ear and out the other.

Oscar is not a guy who Mayweather respects, either as a fighter or as a person.

In one video I saw while skimming Youtube the other day, a petulant Mayweather ripped ODLH for being "a man who wears drag," a shot at the racy photos which circulated of Oscar and his Russian strippper friend.

Which brings me to my list of people who can't bring Mayweather to the light:

1. OSCAR DE LA HOYA: They are contemporaries more or less and clearly Floyd does not look up to Oscar in any regard.

2. RICHIE RICH SCHAEFER: He speaks sensibly also but a Euro banker must seem like a brother from another planet to the urban-oriented Mayweather. RR reads the Wall Street Journal, Floyd reads The Source, end of story.

3. SIDEKICK LENNY ELLERBE: As Floyd's Man Friday, he can't give the fighter guidance on any day of the week, not advice or guidance that Floyd will take to heart. His dependence on Mayweather as a meal ticket works against him in this regard.

4. ROGER MAYWEATHER: Uncle and trainer has his own criminal trial looming Oct. 25 so he can't give any pointers on staying out of the police blotter.

5. FLOYD MAYWEATHER SR.: Too much emotional baggage, going back to L'il Floyd's childhood. The son may love his Dad, he probably does, but he doesn't really include him even in his boxing inner circle. Maybe the son can't forget his Pops training rivals such as Oscar.

(mlcmarley@aol.com)


Source: http://www.examiner.com