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This fight has 'Odd Couple' confusion

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Posted: Friday September 17, 1999 07:59 AM

I think Felix would be rooting for Oscar. I think Oscar would be rooting for Felix. Don't you? I think there's a whole bunch of "Odd Couple" confusion about Saturday night's "Fight of the Millenium" between Felix Trinidad and Oscar De La Hoya from Las Vegas for the welterweight championship of the world.

I know I'm an Oscar guy -- Oscar Madison, that is, the rumpled sportswriter with bad sportscoats and bad habits. I like Trinidad. He's a no-nonsense banger, a fighter's fighter, an honest practitioner of his grim craft. He has qualities I like in my athletes, especially in boxing, a certain humility, a quiet excellence.

De La Hoya is the opposite. He is the Ricky Martin of sport, living that large vida loca of the moment, pictures on magazine covers. He is celebrity as much as a boxer, one of those modern money-making machines with his George Clooney good looks. A Love Connection sort of guy. Boxing is his foothold on fame, but his smile makes him more money than his fists.

I know the other Felix would love Oscar -- probably would have seen him in a fashion spread in "GQ" or something. But that's too bad. I say Felix -- Felix Trinidad, that is - is going to fulfill his own prediction and knock out Oscar -- Oscar De La Hoya, that is -- in the first six rounds.

And Oscar Madisons everywhere are going to cheer.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Leigh Montville appears regularly on CNN/Sports Illustrated. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the writer.

 

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