A Modest Proposal: DelaHoya v. Spinks; Forrest v. Mayorga

Let's face it. Oscar DelaHoya can have any fight he wants within range of his weight, perhaps short of automatically getting Mayweather back in the ring. In reviewing the most recent Ring ratings, I see that Oscar's now ranked 3rd at 154. Unless my recollection fails me, that means he can fight the #1 ranked Cory Spinks and become the Ring champion at 154. That's a goal worth pursuing.

After all, does anyone really think that Oscar is a lesser fighter than Roman Karmazin or Cory Spinks? In fact for my money, the most dangerous fighter in the top five is the reinvigorated Vernon Forrest. Forrest has looked devastating in his return from shoulder surgery, believably claiming that his pre-surgery decline should be blamed on favoring the shoulder when he should have taken time off to repair it. Sure that sounds like a convenient excuse...until you see how dominating he has looked in his return, including a thorough trouncing of the once-overrated, but now-underrated Carlos Baldomir.

The point is that Oscar ought to jump at the chance to knock off Spinks before Forrest leapfrogs him and stakes his claim. Forrest is the much tougher fight and if Oscar wants to test himself again after Spinks he may want Forrest (who, while not the best draw in boxing, does have a reputation and a name). Meanwhile, I'm sure drawing Mayorga back into the ring to avenge his only defeats is first on Forrest's list, so this could all work out nicely.

As for Oscar, he would have his way with either Karmazin or Spinks and frankly latter is probably the easier fight. Spinks is a light-hitting defensive fighter who, while he shouldn't be underestimated, can be beaten every time out by a boxer of Oscar's caliber, specifically a great fighter who can bring real skilled pressure and pain. The main argument against it must be that Spinks is a true bore and carries little drawing power outside of his native St. Louis. However, this is Oscar we're talking about and he draws pay-per-views like moths to a flame. He crosses demographics, pulls in starwatchers and realfightfans alike and always comes prepared. His pay-per-view take won't suffer all that much by taking on Spinks at this point because people flat out come out to watch him fight. Even though Spinks is almost always guaranteed to bring the snooze...I think Oscar can force him to fight.

Here's my pitch to Mr. DelaHoya: you need a break from fighting superfights, but you don't want to be accused of taking worthless fights unless they're tuneups. This could be both. Since no true superfight is on the horizon, you need a legit opponent and a goal. You also need a guy who's going to challenge you. Spinks is that guy. He will actually embarass you if you don't come fully prepared. But...if you bring the pain, he will crumble. Now...whether you want to (or can bring yourself to) train like that with all those millions in the bank and a silk bathrobe on your back every morning is another story. Here's why you should: you know you're not done fighting. You're at the peak of your earning power, your speed is still good, your footwork is there and your left still breaks ribs, especially when delivered to a fighter at a fairly comparable weight. There's a lifetime of watching other guys fight ahead of you and you'll not risk any IQ points fighting Cory Spinks. That said...if there's a guy looking to make a reputation on you, it's Spinks. And he can fight, make no mistake. You got in that crazy shape for Floyd, right? Bring that same fight plan to Cory and watch him crumble. Here's my proposed card: Forrest v. Mayorga and DelaHoya v. Spinks. That will draw a huge crowd and some major buzz. You get your Ring belt in the process and continue to legitimize that one true belt. That you'll have to pay to have the belt made and delivered is a post for another day.