Columnist Dean Juipe: It's possible De La Hoya wins easily

Dean Juipe's column appears Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. His boxing notebook appears Thursday. Reach him at [email protected] or 259-4084.

Several weeks ago another publication requested a prediction on Oscar De La Hoya's fight with Ike Quartey. "De La Hoya by knockout, ninth or 10th round," seemed as good a response as any.

But now that the fight is near -- it's Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center -- the matchup is in clearer focus. And it's entirely possible De La Hoya overwhelms Quartey, maybe even wins easily.

This is a view that goes against the grain, as most fans and observers anticipate Quartey holding his own and perhaps even having the upper hand on the Golden Boy. From a promotional standpoint, this is a fight that has been sold on the premise that Quartey is a legitimate threat to De La Hoya's perfect record.

The over-under round proposition bet is a very high 10, so even the bookies are looking for the fight to last a few rounds if not go its entire 12-round scheduled distance.

On closer thought, however, take the under.

There's reason to believe De La Hoya is ready to make a statement, and what better way than to make quick work of Quartey? By fancying himself as one for the ages, De La Hoya needs a handful of shocking results on his resume and disposing of Quartey in just a few rounds would be one of them.

Furthermore, beneath his remarks that Quartey will offer him the biggest test of his career, De La Hoya is either very confident or dangerously overconfident. For instance, despite the fact he had Oba Carr in training camp with him and the fact Carr has fought Quartey, De La Hoya never asked his fellow fighter for tips or advice.

Along the same lines, while De La Hoya has spoken highly of Quartey there also have been snippets of indifference if you look close enough. An example: "He's well respected, I guess." And "I'm preparing for the best jab I've ever faced, but I don't know if it'll be the best jab I've ever faced."

It's reasonable to believe De La Hoya looks at Quartey and sees a man who has not fought in 16 months, has not won a fight in almost two years, is fairly one-dimensional offensively, and whose defense and stamina are in question after being lucky to get a draw with Jose Luis Lopez in October of 1997. Never mind that Quartey's reluctance to remove his dark sunglasses this week led to talk that he's covering an eye injury or a cut, De La Hoya could see his opponent as overrated, as a perfect target and as a man who has never faced the type of competition or onslaught the WBC welterweight champ has been known to deliver.

Conversely, all but De La Hoya's press agent have to acknowledge the fighter has had his disappointing days. He had no reason to not chase down Hector Camacho and Pernell Whitaker and knock them out, but instead he allowed those fights to go the distance and have the results be categorized as unimpressive.

If he really wants everlasting fame, De La Hoya has to exert himself. His skill level is tremendous, his athletic abilities are superb and his size and strength advantages are imposing, yet he hasn't always given 100 percent.

Sometimes, he has played it safe. And he may play it safe with Quartey, too, given the challenger's punching power.

But if he actually has his eye on being remembered into the next century, De La Hoya has to be consistently dominating.

Blasting out Quartey would be a step in that direction.

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