u/Recovery20172024

​I recently re-watched Mayweather vs. De La Hoya (2007) with a blank slate, and I actually scored it 7-5 (or 8-4) for Oscar.

​While the official split decision went to Floyd and his late-fight surge in the championship rounds was brilliant, the first half belongs to De La Hoya.

Here is why:

​Early Dominance: Oscar wasn't just throwing volume; his double-jab was landing cleanly, and he was digging hard hooks to the body while Floyd spent too much time inactive on the ropes.

​Floyd's Inactivity: We've seen Floyd give away early rounds before, but his output in the first half here was remarkably low, letting Oscar easily steal rounds through higher work rate and aggression.

​Narrative Bias: Commentary at the time heavily favored Mayweather's defense (making Oscar miss flashy shots), which often overshadowed the fact that Oscar was landing cleaner, consistent scoring blows through the guard.

​Don't get me wrong—Floyd definitely figured him out down the stretch. But I think Oscar's first-half dominance outweighs Floyd's late finish.

​How do you guys score it upon a modern re-watch? Was this closer than people remember?

I know my rune combination sucks. I'm too old and lazy to figure this out but man unlocking this 3rd rune slot took lots of effort, time and luck haha

Hypothetical matchup: Manny Pacquiao vs. Edwin Valero, both at their best.

We never got to see this fight, but it’s one of those matchups that makes me wonder what could have happened.

Pacquiao had the speed, angles, footwork, combinations, and experience against elite opposition.

Valero was an absolute pressure machine — undefeated, incredibly aggressive, powerful, and seemingly always looking for the finish.

If they actually fought at their peak, who do you think wins and why?

Would Pacquiao’s speed and movement be too much for Valero?

Or would Valero’s pressure and power eventually catch him?

And most importantly: what do you think the fight looks like? Decision, late stoppage, or early KO?

Drop your prediction and explain your reasoning. I’m genuinely curious to see which side Reddit takes. 🥊🔻

Following the public outcry, the World Boxing Organization (WBO) convened a five-judge independent panel to review the fight video. All five judges scored the fight for Pacquiao (with scores ranging from 115–113 to 118–110).

What do you guys think?