Tale of two ‘big’ fights

Dean Juipe

Thursday, June 3, 2004 | 9:34 a.m.

While Oscar De La Hoya and Felix Sturm admit to a mutual respect, Bernard Hopkins and Robert Allen are far less friendly.

In fact, had common sense not prevailed, Hopkins and Allen may have tangled Wednesday on the running track at UNLV rather than wait to fight as scheduled Saturday at the MGM.

"We had words," Allen said.

"He was talking (expletive)," Hopkins claimed.

"They had to be separated," promoter Bob Arum added with a smile, happy that neither of the fighters resorted to fisticuffs with Saturday's doubleheader so near at hand.

Hopkins vs. Allen and De La Hoya vs. Sturm provides a pair of middleweight fights in which the stakes are considerable: If Hopkins and De La Hoya win, they will fight Sept. 18 at the same site.

The fact that Hopkins and Allen all but bumped into each other while running in opposite directions during a morning workout on the UNLV track accentuates their commitment to the fight while underscoring their divergent approaches. Hopkins is the confident, well-versed champion while Allen is the brash, outspoken challenger.

"I'm in first class and he's in coach," Hopkins said later Wednesday at the final prefight press conference. "There's a reason I'm where I'm at and there's a reason he's where he's at."

Hopkins, 39, is 43-2-1 and is the undisputed middleweight champion. He's also a minus 1300 betting favorite for what he hopes will be his 18th consecutive successful title defense.

Allen, 34, is 36-4 and has a loss and a no-decision in two earlier fights against Hopkins. Allen is a plus 800 underdog.

Their fight will precede one between De La Hoya and Sturm on a pay-per-view card that will also attract some 12,000 fans.

"Robert Allen says I'm a punk and a sissy, but that's fine," Hopkins said. "Seventeen people before him said the same thing."

Hopkins is determined to defend his titles 20 times before retiring and is ready to rid himself of Allen. He's also angling for greater appreciation from boxing fans in general.

"Lennox (Lewis) left and Roy (Jones) gets beat and I'm the last of the Mohicans," he said. "It makes me elite. I've delivered, that's why I'm here."

Allen, meanwhile, has his own agenda.

"I'm back on the mountaintop and I don't plan on falling anymore," he said. "This is my opportunity to significantly change my position in boxing."

Hopkins counters by saying Allen won't get his wish, at least at Hopkins' expense.

"He's a southpaw and I'm pretty good against southpaws," he said. "I'm going to do what I do best and hit him before he hits me. That's all there is to it: I'm going to show him, once again, what it's like to be in the ring with a real fighter."

While far less feisty, Sturm seems eager to feel the same type of heightened physical and mental awareness for his fight with De La Hoya.

"I think everyone knows Oscar is a great fighter and great champion," he said. "It'll be a pleasure for me to fight this man."

Sturm, 25, is 20-0 and a plus 1000 betting underdog.

De La Hoya, 31, is 36-3 and is a minus 1500 favorite.

"When Bob (Arum) called and said he wanted Felix to fight Oscar, I said to myself 'You must think I'm crazy,' " said Sturm's promoter, Klaus-Peter Kohl. "Everyone knows Felix is a young fighter and everyone knows Oscar is his idol. It made it seem so crazy.

"But after thinking about it we realized 'Where in the world can Felix get this type of exposure?' and that's the real reason why we took the fight."

De La Hoya was willing to oblige, trying, as he is, to get some experience at 160 pounds before taking on Hopkins.

"The reason I'm motivated for Felix Sturm is the big picture," De La Hoya said. "It's not going to be a walk in the park (and) I know the significance of this is tremendous.

"I'm doing this for history -- for sports history and for my history."

He sees himself on a mission to win championships in six weight classes before he retires, which he says (with some uncertainty) will be later this year. But first he has to defeat a younger man with a sterling record who may be better -- or worse -- than expected.

"I'm definitely ready for Felix but I had no choice but to be ready," De La Hoya said. "He's a heavy-handed fighter with great skills and I'll have to bring everything to beat him."

The polite approach of De La Hoya and Sturm is always welcome, yet it's the bravado of Hopkins and Allen that often personifies the sport.

"We're going to fight and I'm going to hurt him," Hopkins said, cleaning up the message he likely delivered to his challenger as they crossed paths at UNLV.