De La Hoya’s Options Limited After Upsets

It was a night of upsets Saturday at the Convention Hall in Atlantic City.

But nobody was more upset than promoter Bob Arum.

Along with Terry Norris and Raul Marquez, both of whom lost their titles Saturday night, Arum’s plans for 1998 went up in smoke.

Arum, promoter for World Boxing Council welterweight champion Oscar De La Hoya, has lined up Patrick Charpentier of France for a February match against De La Hoya in Las Vegas.

After that, Arum had penciled in Norris for June. But even then, Arum needed two more opponents for the undefeated De La Hoya (27-0, 22 knockouts), who wants to fight four times in 1998 after having taken on five opponents this year.

But the list of credible fighters to match against De La Hoya has grown even shorter. After Saturday night’s upsets, Arum suggested the winners: Yory Boy Campas, who, as a 7-5 underdog, captured Marquez’ International Boxing Federation junior-middleweight title on an eighth-round TKO, and Keith Mullings, a 10-1 underdog, who stopped Norris in the ninth round. Arum also mentioned a possible rematch with Pernell Whitaker, whom De La Hoya beat in a close, controversial decision last April, and Ike Quartey.

About the only name Arum did not mention as a potential opponent in ’98 is unbeaten Felix Trinidad (32-0 with 28 knockouts).

Trinidad wants to fight at 154 pounds and De La Hoya is still getting used to competing at 147.

“It will take some time,” Arum said, “but Oscar would love to fight Felix Trinidad.”

In the meantime, De La Hoya will have to go for quantity, because there is isn’t much quality in his weight division.

At least not the quality De La Hoya offers. He has gotten so good, he has run out of people who can give him a good fight, with the possible exception of Trinidad.

Norris didn’t figure to offer much, but at least he had a name boxing fans were familiar with and were willing to pay to see.

Charpentier, De La Hoya’s next opponent, doesn’t speak English, which will make it difficult to promote him. Campas has a strong following in Los Angeles and below the border but nowhere else.

Arum wasn’t willing to give Whitaker a rematch a few months ago, but now, considering the alternatives, the promoter seems more willing to listen.

But aside from Whitaker, De La Hoya appears to have been become locked into a zone of mediocrity by his own growth, physically and professionally.

There are good fighters with high name recognition such as Arturo Gatti and Gabe Ruelas in the lower weight divisions, but De La Hoya has left those divisions forever.

There are rising stars such as David Reid in the middleweight division, but De La Hoya isn’t ready to go up quite yet.

Forget the charges that De La Hoya is ducking people. That’s not a fair accusation to make against someone taking on nine opponents in two years.

No, De La Hoya isn’t avoiding fighters. He’s looking for them.