1 00:00:02,279 --> 00:00:05,200 Well, it is my pleasure to once again welcome to our podcast to one 2 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:09,880 and only Hall of Fame Boxer outstanding promoter, Oscar de la Hoya. Oscar, 3 00:00:09,919 --> 00:00:12,759 thank you very much for doing this. We have a very big fight 4 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:15,480 to talk about, don't we. Yes, we do, we do, 5 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:20,679 and I'm excited. I'm excited. It's gonna be. Uh, it's gonna 6 00:00:20,719 --> 00:00:27,960 be one of those events that you're gonna remember where you were, you know, 7 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:30,960 the night of the of the special fight on four twenty. Well, 8 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:33,920 I sure hope. So, so we'll make sure people know which fight we're 9 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:37,079 talking about. I hope they do. We're talking about a great matchup between 10 00:00:37,119 --> 00:00:44,000 the WBC Junior Welterweight Champion Devin Haney taking on the superstar Ryan Garcia in a 11 00:00:44,079 --> 00:00:47,679 big, big fight as you mentioned, April twentieth, DO Zone pay per 12 00:00:47,719 --> 00:00:50,960 view here in the United States, DI Zone worldwide around the rest of the 13 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:54,079 globe. My first question this is, I don't know if you guys have 14 00:00:54,159 --> 00:00:56,560 figured this all out yet. When when the when the fighters went on their 15 00:00:56,600 --> 00:01:00,439 social media and you and and the Zone and everybody was putting out the fact 16 00:01:00,439 --> 00:01:03,560 that this was made in the two fighters went to do some interviews at the 17 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:10,079 Super Bowl Radio row, the location of the fight was not said. Do 18 00:01:10,159 --> 00:01:14,159 we know yet where this fight's going to take place? We do not know 19 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:19,799 where, but it will be in Vegas. Got you what. We don't 20 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:23,200 have the venue just yet, but it will be in Las Vegas, all 21 00:01:23,239 --> 00:01:25,799 right, So that narrows it down. Obviously, there's only about three places 22 00:01:25,799 --> 00:01:27,319 that can handle a fight like this. It seems to me T Mobile Arena, 23 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:33,959 the MGM Grand Garden Arena, I Guesst. Thomas and Mack Center Mandalay 24 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:37,400 Bay probably too small. I mean, am I missing something? Well? 25 00:01:37,439 --> 00:01:42,239 I mean there's also the Allegiance Stadium, So there's that's true, several possibilities. 26 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:45,480 We're not quite ready for the Spear yet, I guess right well, 27 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:49,599 the Sphere. The Sphere is not quite ready with their technology that's so advanced. 28 00:01:51,159 --> 00:01:57,000 Imagine imagine. The Sphere has a sixteen K sixteen K technology which can 29 00:01:57,079 --> 00:02:01,560 be transmitted over to four K. So they're still trying to figure those kings 30 00:02:01,599 --> 00:02:08,479 out. But I'm very confident that someday still will be first promoted to stage 31 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:13,120 a fight from this year, Well, that'll be very exciting in terms of 32 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:15,520 making the deal for this fight. One of the things that very much interested 33 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:21,680 in me was other than I guess we'll call it a hiccup when you had 34 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:24,120 begun to try to make the fight with Haney at Ryan's request, and then 35 00:02:24,159 --> 00:02:29,000 he had a sudden change of mind and said let's pursue Roly Romero instead for 36 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:32,479 the WBA title. That did not last because even though my understanding, as 37 00:02:32,479 --> 00:02:36,360 you guys were, you know, down the road to some degree, he 38 00:02:36,439 --> 00:02:38,120 ended up taking an offer from it for another fight and he will fight Pitt 39 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:42,879 Bull Cruise in March, and that left Ryan without a big marquee name. 40 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:46,759 Devin was still looking for a big marquee name himself, and once he went 41 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:50,280 back to the table to try to make this match, I guess yourself and 42 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:54,120 Bill Haney, it only took maybe like what a week, ten days and 43 00:02:54,159 --> 00:02:58,400 then the scheme of major fights, Oscar, you know, that's like a 44 00:02:58,439 --> 00:03:00,400 couple hours. I mean, that's a real eal, very drama free. 45 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:05,240 Can you characterize and explain how you were able to make this caliber fight at 46 00:03:05,319 --> 00:03:09,000 least from looking outside, pretty pain free, pretty drama free. Sure. 47 00:03:09,039 --> 00:03:13,280 I mean, first of all, let's go back. Let's go back to 48 00:03:13,319 --> 00:03:17,000 the to the original plan. That I had, and that was Ryan versus 49 00:03:17,039 --> 00:03:22,280 Rowley, and Ryan gave me, you know, instructions to go after Rolli's 50 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:30,240 and we were making offers back and forth. And when that famous jog at 51 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:36,280 three am with Mayweather and Ryan Garcia happened to make it I mean, I'm 52 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:42,280 sorry Rolli's and Ryan Garcia. We were trying to make rollies and Ryan Garcia, 53 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:46,759 that's that. That was the original plan. And when that famous jog 54 00:03:46,919 --> 00:03:52,560 at three in the morning with Mayweather and Ryan happened, you know, everything 55 00:03:52,599 --> 00:04:00,120 got derailed because of his influence of Mayweather's influence, so you know, there 56 00:04:00,199 --> 00:04:02,520 might be some kind of breach there from Mayweather. But anyway, we have 57 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:09,000 a great fight coming up April twentieth. You know, it wasn't it wasn't 58 00:04:09,039 --> 00:04:14,479 that complicated to make, you know, And let me go back to the 59 00:04:14,599 --> 00:04:21,199 roll situation. I mean, we offered him a ridiculous amount of money and 60 00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:30,040 now he goes back and is fighting on Prime with new guarantee whatsoever, hoping 61 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:32,519 that the pay per view just hits. So anyway, but I can't, 62 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:34,639 by the way, I can't even figure that one out because he's not even 63 00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:41,279 the main event in that fight. Exactly. So there's no way, there's 64 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:46,680 no way Rollies is making more money than what I offered him. There's no 65 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:51,680 way whatsoever. So when you when you had been asked about doing the Rollie 66 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:55,800 fight, that was after you originally he drand it asked me to do with 67 00:04:55,839 --> 00:04:58,800 the Haney fight. Now you go back to try to make the Haney fight, 68 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:02,519 which you're now successful in doing with his father. And again, how 69 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:05,319 why was it so easy to make this fight? Really? And I say 70 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:09,839 easy, I mean relative to other major fights let's talk about you know, 71 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:13,839 the complications were, for example, making Ryan when he fought against Tank Davis 72 00:05:13,879 --> 00:05:16,360 or any number of other major fights that take place. All things considered, 73 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:20,839 this one felt like it came together with zero drama. It was, it 74 00:05:20,879 --> 00:05:25,519 was, it was almost zero drama. I mean, but I look, 75 00:05:25,560 --> 00:05:30,600 I was dealing with with Bill Haney all along, and he was literally, 76 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:33,040 you know, a pleasure to work with. I mean, yes, there 77 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:38,439 was you know, a few headaches and complications here and there, but nothing 78 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:42,759 nothing to go you know, cry home about. But I strongly feel that, 79 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:46,879 I strongly feel that Haney and Ryan Garcia really want to be great. 80 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:53,680 I really do, because as I was negotiating this, and like you said, 81 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:58,079 it was easy to negotiate because when fighters want to fight each other, 82 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:03,639 things things happen, things get made, and and so you know, we 83 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:10,720 were dealing back and forth. Ryan Garcia agreed, the Haines agreed, and 84 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:14,040 you know we're off to the races. And you know, it really is 85 00:06:14,399 --> 00:06:17,519 a breath of fresh air to have two guys, two young guys in their 86 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:23,279 prime. I believe they're twenty five years old each. Yeah, imagine in 87 00:06:23,319 --> 00:06:27,160 their prime fighting each other. You just don't see that anymore. So that's 88 00:06:27,199 --> 00:06:30,680 why I think this fight here is going to be so special for that reason, 89 00:06:30,759 --> 00:06:33,279 and then not not that reason alone. I mean, both guys are 90 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:36,759 very talented, they're strong, they have I mean, keep in mind, 91 00:06:36,879 --> 00:06:44,680 these guys are three and three in the amateur very interests. Amy beat him 92 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:47,439 three times, Ryan beat him three times. This is the tiebreaker for all 93 00:06:47,439 --> 00:06:49,319 the marbles. You know, you made a really good point. Though they're 94 00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:53,439 both twenty five years old, and there's so many times where you've seen when 95 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:58,240 fights that are huge finally do get made, the fighters are not in their 96 00:06:58,279 --> 00:07:00,879 primes. You know, Girls Spence fought Terrence Crawford. We all wanted to 97 00:07:00,879 --> 00:07:04,240 see it, but they were obviously into their deep thirties. When Floyd and 98 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:08,800 Manny pack Yo finally fought, they were obviously near the end of their careers. 99 00:07:09,199 --> 00:07:12,959 Of course, you have Ryan Garcia and Tanked, and Ryan Garcia and 100 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:15,360 Devin Hainey fighting at age twenty five. I mean, I'm not saying they're 101 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:16,800 the same fighters are the same kind of fight, but I think about fights 102 00:07:17,199 --> 00:07:20,279 like Ray Leonard was like twenty three or something like that, and Tommy Hearns 103 00:07:20,360 --> 00:07:26,040 was like twenty five twenty six, Like they're doing that type of matchup, 104 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:30,879 and it may go rivalry wise with them and some other guys in around their 105 00:07:30,879 --> 00:07:33,639 weight class who are the same ages where we may see those fights. Do 106 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:38,920 you think because they're doing this, other fighters may think to themselves, hey, 107 00:07:39,519 --> 00:07:42,800 we should do this also. And I say that because Ryan was obviously 108 00:07:43,079 --> 00:07:46,560 willing to take on Tank Davis at at a younger age. Tank was still 109 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:49,199 in his twenties when he fought Ryan, and they were finally seeing some movement 110 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:51,639 with the younger fighters. Not wait until they're end the end of their careers. 111 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:57,079 Sure well, look, I mean, look, I sure hope that 112 00:07:57,199 --> 00:08:03,120 you know these fighters are taking notes. I sure hope that that, you 113 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:07,759 know, because think about it right now, Ryan, especially Ryan, because 114 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:11,680 like you mentioned, he's coming off the Tank fight and now he's fighting Hany 115 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:18,399 in his time, you know, I sure hope that other fighters realize that 116 00:08:20,319 --> 00:08:24,399 it's okay to fight the best, and if you don't come out on top 117 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:28,920 and you put out a great performance, you still do not lose, right, 118 00:08:28,079 --> 00:08:33,159 you still live to see another day, so or another payday. Well 119 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:37,600 he'll have had by the way, because the fight's April twentieth, it'll be 120 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:41,120 three fights in three hundred and sixty five day period of one year, not 121 00:08:41,159 --> 00:08:46,120 a counter year. But he fought Tank last April, the fight with Devin 122 00:08:46,159 --> 00:08:48,480 is this April. In between he obviously had to come back and the big 123 00:08:48,559 --> 00:08:54,159 knockout win against Duarte, so he's staying active making major fights. Like you 124 00:08:54,159 --> 00:08:56,639 said, I think that is definitely a breast breath of fresh air. And 125 00:08:56,679 --> 00:09:00,679 if you take a look at the Hany record recently, he went fought George 126 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:03,240 Cambos's two times in Australia. Racist hand to do that when Loma fell out, 127 00:09:03,759 --> 00:09:07,360 went and fought Loma after that, you know, on pay per view, 128 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:11,279 moved up, fought Regi's programming. Now he's taken on Devin Haney, 129 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:13,720 I mean not Ryan Garcia rather, and so he's fighting all the big fights. 130 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:16,039 Also, what is it that says these two guys apart from some other 131 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:22,320 guys who don't seem too interested in doing that. I strongly feel that it's 132 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:30,000 it's obviously their their will, and it's it's there, it's it's it's them 133 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:33,480 making the decisions, like I want to be great. I want to be 134 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:41,440 considered a legendary fighter. And I love that because when when you think that 135 00:09:41,519 --> 00:09:48,679 way of becoming a legend become you know, being part of uh certain fights 136 00:09:48,759 --> 00:09:54,559 at a certain point of your career, at your peak, that's that's when 137 00:09:54,600 --> 00:10:00,120 you become Yeah, that's when you have legendary status. But the money will 138 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:03,000 also come. The money will also be right behind you. And so a 139 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:05,919 lot of fighters these days are thinking, well, let me make the money, 140 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:11,360 let me let me make the wrong fights, let me make the most 141 00:10:11,399 --> 00:10:16,279 money possible and uh and and then they and then they don't worry about their 142 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:22,360 legendary status. And that's been the wrong you know, the wrong thinking uh 143 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:26,639 with with these young kids is that you know, you have to think about 144 00:10:26,399 --> 00:10:31,960 legacy first, then the money will come. So do you think also that 145 00:10:33,519 --> 00:10:35,840 I think about it like this. At some point, it's great that you 146 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:39,159 can make and take big fights, but at some point you do have to 147 00:10:39,159 --> 00:10:41,000 at least put a win in the in the win Colm to keep that going. 148 00:10:41,039 --> 00:10:45,519 And does that put a little more pressure on Ryan in this fight because 149 00:10:45,559 --> 00:10:48,879 his big, big fight prior to this, which was the the Tank Davis 150 00:10:48,879 --> 00:10:54,440 fight, he didn't win. Yeah, look I I look right, Ryan 151 00:10:54,480 --> 00:11:03,080 Garcia is still making more money than any fighter in his weight class, including 152 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:09,279 Tank Davis. I guarantee you that Tank Davis will make less money in his 153 00:11:09,399 --> 00:11:16,519 less next fight than Ryan Garcia fighting hany So it doesn't really matter, you 154 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:20,360 know, if you lose, it's how you lose. If you lose in 155 00:11:20,360 --> 00:11:24,679 a great fight, if you lose in a fight that's close, a fight 156 00:11:24,720 --> 00:11:31,279 that is exciting, you actually can sometimes even win even bigger if you lose 157 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:35,159 in a great fight. I totally understand that. I was interested in your 158 00:11:35,200 --> 00:11:39,639 perspective on their confrontation. They obviously made their announcements on their social that the 159 00:11:39,679 --> 00:11:43,080 fight was all done, and then they were doing some interviews that super Bowl 160 00:11:43,159 --> 00:11:46,879 Radio wrote in Las Vegas to try to get a kickstart on the promotion of 161 00:11:46,919 --> 00:11:48,799 the event, let people know it's happening, even though there hasn't yet been, 162 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:52,759 you know, the formal press conference, et cetera. So I'm sure 163 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:54,600 you know you saw the video. They were going to take some photos and 164 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:58,840 some video, and of course they got into it and there was some pushing 165 00:11:58,879 --> 00:12:03,519 and shoving, Ryan pushing Devin Devon retaliating. You know, you you were 166 00:12:03,519 --> 00:12:05,960 in a lot of fights in your career. I maybe I'm missing something, 167 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:09,559 but I don't really ever remember there being that type of activity from your fights. 168 00:12:09,919 --> 00:12:13,360 It kind of seemed a little contrived from my perspective. Uh what did 169 00:12:13,399 --> 00:12:18,080 you make of all that? I I I really feel they have, uh 170 00:12:18,240 --> 00:12:24,200 a real animosity towards each other. I I really do think there's like bad 171 00:12:24,279 --> 00:12:31,720 blood there. You know, they're coming off uh three wins each in the 172 00:12:31,759 --> 00:12:37,320 Amateurs. You know, Devin Haney wants to prove something. Ryan Garcia wants 173 00:12:37,399 --> 00:12:43,519 to prove something. You know, the the fact that they have history amongst 174 00:12:43,559 --> 00:12:46,799 each other is is uh is going to be a play a huge factor in 175 00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:52,519 this fight. Who can who can keep their composure, who can who can 176 00:12:52,639 --> 00:12:56,679 stay in the game and stay focused during the fights and not let those emotions 177 00:12:56,759 --> 00:13:03,320 get in the way. I I just feel that with Devin Haney, with 178 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:09,200 Ryan that animosity, and then with Bill Haney and my partner Bertinard, it's 179 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:11,879 gonna take it over the top. I think, I think this fight is 180 00:13:11,879 --> 00:13:15,120 going to be one of the biggest fights in the year. Well, I 181 00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:18,519 think we might see a little activity between your man Bernard and mister Bill Haney 182 00:13:18,519 --> 00:13:24,080 as well. That seems inevitable. They're about the same age. Also, 183 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:28,720 maybe they could throw down who that is. I might maybe make an offer 184 00:13:28,759 --> 00:13:31,639 to both. Well, listen, they're both in great shape. I can 185 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:35,120 tell you that I'm really I'm really pumped up for this fight, and I'm 186 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:35,919 glad we were able to talk about it. I must ask you, as 187 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:39,279 long as I have you, I have one other thing I wanted to ask 188 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:41,600 you about. One of the biggest fights in the career of Oscar de la 189 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:45,559 Hoya was against e Quarte. I'm sure you remember that. Well, it 190 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:46,919 just so happens. I don't want to make you feel old. I know 191 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:50,399 I feel old when I say it. Oscar was twenty five years ago this 192 00:13:50,519 --> 00:13:58,480 week. If you can believe that twenty five years ago, on February thirteenth, 193 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:03,519 nineteen ninety nine, you were defending the nineteen ninetynine. You're defending the 194 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:07,440 the WBC welterweight world title. You were I think that was you were at 195 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:09,639 your peak of your career. It seemed like you're on a tremendous run. 196 00:14:09,679 --> 00:14:13,759 You had beaten Javas in the rematch, your next fight was Obacar, then 197 00:14:13,799 --> 00:14:16,919 came Trinidad. You know you were right there in the throes of your of 198 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:22,240 your championship first time at welterweight. What are your memories of that fight. 199 00:14:22,279 --> 00:14:24,759 I just remember so many things about it, the sixth round, with the 200 00:14:24,799 --> 00:14:28,320 knockdowns, your incredible near knockout in the twelfth round, and the great call 201 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:31,799 from Jim Lampley on the broadcast. Watching that on pay per view, I 202 00:14:31,799 --> 00:14:35,080 think that's one of your biggest wins. I mean again, it's twenty five 203 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:37,840 years ago, so I thought maybe i'd jog your memory and see what what 204 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:41,320 you remember about that great the game. I think it was one of my 205 00:14:41,440 --> 00:14:48,039 one of the funnest times I've had in the rain, literally because see what 206 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:56,720 people don't know is I actually got cut on my right eye before about I 207 00:14:56,759 --> 00:15:01,840 would say about two weeks before training camp it was a bad, bad cut. 208 00:15:01,759 --> 00:15:05,840 And I said before training camp or in training camp, before before before 209 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:09,600 the actual fight, in training camp, and uh, and it was about 210 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:13,919 two weeks before. And I remember they didn't let me spar, they didn't 211 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:18,559 let me train because, you know, because the cut might reopen. And 212 00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:24,919 I remember just telling myself, I cannot pull out. I cannot pull out 213 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:28,759 this. This fight is very important because this fight here, nobody wanted to 214 00:15:28,799 --> 00:15:33,080 fight Corte. I took the fight, so I have to follow through. 215 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:37,879 And I remember, I remember I was in great, great shape for the 216 00:15:37,919 --> 00:15:43,559 fight, right because I always trained hard. But mentally I was always asking 217 00:15:43,639 --> 00:15:46,799 myself, my gosh, what if I get tired, What if I get 218 00:15:46,840 --> 00:15:50,879 tired. I didn't train for these last two weeks because of my cut. 219 00:15:52,080 --> 00:15:54,720 What if I get tired? So I had that in my mind, and 220 00:15:54,879 --> 00:15:58,039 sure enough that the eye, Courte came out strong. He came out, 221 00:15:58,559 --> 00:16:02,879 I mean, he was to his IQ, was incredible inside the ring. 222 00:16:03,679 --> 00:16:06,519 He was tough as nails then. But it just it made it a fun 223 00:16:06,559 --> 00:16:11,120 fight. Maybe you'll disagree with this when I look back at your career, 224 00:16:11,559 --> 00:16:12,960 and you had a lot of big fights and fought a lot of great fighters, 225 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:15,879 a lot of Hall of famers and all that. I think, and 226 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:18,919 I when I think about the Courte fight, I feel like it was the 227 00:16:18,960 --> 00:16:26,159 first time in your professional career that you really had a bite down and show 228 00:16:26,519 --> 00:16:29,840 serious toughness. Not that you weren't tough and you didn't fight good fighters, 229 00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:33,919 but you really were in with a guy that was more physical than you with 230 00:16:33,039 --> 00:16:37,639 the power jab, a guy that was very, very dangerous. A lot 231 00:16:37,639 --> 00:16:40,000 of people thought you were crazy for taking the fight, that he was going 232 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:41,960 to win the fight. You feel like that was the first time you truly 233 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:45,679 had a bite down and show that grit. I think, I think it's 234 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:49,159 the first time that I was I was taken out of my comfort zone. 235 00:16:49,679 --> 00:16:52,919 You know a lot of things, a lot of you know, things that 236 00:16:52,960 --> 00:17:00,480 people don't know about me is that I was in my career, you know, 237 00:17:00,559 --> 00:17:03,359 and and and and and I don't know if people who are listening saw 238 00:17:03,559 --> 00:17:08,640 my documentary on HBO Max or or or if you if you watch it after 239 00:17:08,680 --> 00:17:12,839 this interview. I watched it. You know, Uh, I was, 240 00:17:12,920 --> 00:17:19,440 I was. I was. I was very comfortable doing what I was doing, 241 00:17:19,720 --> 00:17:25,839 and and and staying at stay staying comfortable. I was just very comfortable 242 00:17:25,880 --> 00:17:30,839 because I had the fame coming back from the Olympics, I had the money, 243 00:17:30,920 --> 00:17:33,880 I had everything, you know, and so I was just getting by, 244 00:17:34,079 --> 00:17:37,000 you know, I was getting by, you know, training hard in 245 00:17:37,359 --> 00:17:42,119 camp, but just getting by doing enough. And so with Courte Man, 246 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:47,119 he took me out of my comfort zone and I had really big taped out 247 00:17:47,119 --> 00:17:51,279 inside. I mean, if I can't even imagine if I was in great, 248 00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:55,400 great, great shape, who knows what would have happened. But but 249 00:17:55,759 --> 00:17:57,680 yeah, Courte took me out of that comfort zone and I had to do 250 00:17:57,720 --> 00:18:02,160 a little extra to win that fight. So just wrap it up with this 251 00:18:02,200 --> 00:18:04,880 Oscar. You remember that twelfth round you had him on the ropes, Jim 252 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:07,920 Lambley screaming. It's like Leonard Hearn's all over again, because you were having 253 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:11,559 draped across the ropes the way Sugar Ray Leonard had Tommy over the ropes in 254 00:18:11,640 --> 00:18:15,319 round fourteen of their classic first fight. You did not get to stop, 255 00:18:15,359 --> 00:18:18,480 but you were maybe like literally a punch away. Maybe other reps would have 256 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:22,400 stopped. At Mitch Halpern that night, they elected not to stop it. 257 00:18:22,960 --> 00:18:23,880 I mean, you got to win, and it was a great victory. 258 00:18:23,920 --> 00:18:26,279 But how much would you have liked to get that stoppage right there in the 259 00:18:26,319 --> 00:18:30,799 twelfth round? Oh my gosh, I mean I didn't. I don't know 260 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:37,359 what I could have done with everything Oscar I hit him with like thirty unanswered 261 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:41,000 punches, and the way he stood up, who knows how he did. 262 00:18:41,079 --> 00:18:47,279 I mean it was incredible. It was It was literally out of a Rocky 263 00:18:47,359 --> 00:18:51,599 movie. When that last bell rang in the twelfth round. I mean I 264 00:18:51,640 --> 00:18:55,599 was just exhausted and happy, and I mean it was just such a great 265 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:59,440 moment. Yeah, great memories. And do you put it then? I 266 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:00,599 guess, Oh, you know, had a lot of big wins, whether 267 00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:06,000 it's Chavez or this fight, or you know, you know, moving up 268 00:19:06,039 --> 00:19:08,039 and down the waight classes, unifying titles in a lightweight division for Nandal Vargas, 269 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:10,960 et cetera. I mean, where do you rank it? You would 270 00:19:10,960 --> 00:19:15,319 you say in your pantheon of big Oscar de l Away victories? Oh my 271 00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:18,599 gosh, I mean top five, absolutely, top five. I mean I 272 00:19:18,920 --> 00:19:22,799 strongly if you look at it. You know, the one thing about reminiscing 273 00:19:22,839 --> 00:19:26,960 and remembering, you know, the I Coorte fight twenty five years ago, 274 00:19:27,079 --> 00:19:34,160 It just it makes me, it makes me want to work harder to get 275 00:19:34,200 --> 00:19:41,160 myself into the Hall of Fame again as a promoter. And you know, 276 00:19:41,599 --> 00:19:44,839 and I don't think that's ever been done ever in the history of the sport. 277 00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:47,279 You know, I'm not even sure that I've been voting in the Hall 278 00:19:47,319 --> 00:19:49,680 of Fame for like over twenty years, and I'm not even sure that that. 279 00:19:51,079 --> 00:19:55,000 I guess technically that is allowed because you're in different categories. You're inducted 280 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:59,559 as a boxer in the modern category of men's fighters, but there is a 281 00:19:59,559 --> 00:20:04,319 category that's separate that is for you know, non participants, observers, and 282 00:20:04,799 --> 00:20:07,319 you know, all kinds of other categories. So you know, maybe that 283 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:11,799 is possible. Well, I mean the boxing promoter. I mean, there's 284 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:15,240 what Bob Arab who was a promoter. There's don Key who's a promoter. 285 00:20:17,279 --> 00:20:18,640 I'm gonna have to I'm gonna have to check with my good friend Ed Brophy 286 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:22,079 at the Boxing Hall of Fame and ask me if that's something that's uh, 287 00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:27,599 it's every because what I'm what I'm what I've been doing for the last twenty 288 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:32,200 plus years, I mean, has been pretty remarkable for a next fighter. 289 00:20:32,359 --> 00:20:34,200 I don't think it's ever been done. So that's all I'm gonna do is 290 00:20:34,440 --> 00:20:38,240 I'm gonna push for these big fights. I'm gonna continue to do what I 291 00:20:38,319 --> 00:20:41,640 do best, and that's love the sport of boxing, and and and and 292 00:20:41,799 --> 00:20:45,240 just continue to grow it. Well. We got another big one with with 293 00:20:45,480 --> 00:20:49,599 Devin Haney against Ryan Garcia on April twentieth. Oscar, appreciate you taking the 294 00:20:49,599 --> 00:20:52,839 time out to talk to me about it as well as the memories of the 295 00:20:52,839 --> 00:20:55,839 great fight you had with I twenty five years ago. Thank you very much, 296 00:20:55,920 --> 00:21:00,000 and I hope you have a great success in the promotion. Thank you, 297 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:03,119 thank you. We'll see yourself take your m hm.