Shaquille O’Neal, left, poses with boxer Oscar De La Hoya during a news conference for the ABC television series “Shaq vs” at Planet Hollywood Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009. Shaq will take on Oscar De La Hoya at the casino tonight.
Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009 | 5:33 p.m.
ABC promo: Shaq Vs.
Shaquille O’Neal is used to coming to Las Vegas for vacation and relaxation.
"I just like the bright city lights and being in the city that never sleeps,” O’Neal said.
Shaq’s visit this week, however, isn’t for any club hopping or spa treatments. He learned that the hard way Monday when he went through a workout session with renowned boxing trainer Freddie Roach.
"After all the training with my good friend Freddie Roach and seeing all the hard work, I respect all those great boxers,” O’Neal said. "Their training is on another level.”
The 7-foot-1, 325-pound O’Neal will take on 5-foot-10, 154-pound Oscar De La Hoya in a boxing match Tuesday night at Planet Hollywood’s pool deck for his upcoming ABC show, “Shaq Vs.”
The fight, which will air Sept. 15, will feature some differences from a normal bout to keep Shaq and De La Hoya safe.
They will have heavier gloves than what would be worn during a normal competition. The ring will be 24 feet by 24 feet instead of the standard 10-by-10. And both competitors will wear protective headgear.
The fight will last five rounds. De La Hoya, the retired 10-time world champion, called Shaq "his biggest challenge — literally."
"If he only hits me one time, it could be over,” De La Hoya said. "That’s the challenge for me. It’s going to be fun, but at the same time very competitive.”
When they posed face-to-face for their pre-fight photos, De La Hoya barely stood over Shaq’s waist. Therefore, the question had to be asked: Was Shaq worried about below the belt shots from the Golden Boy?
Shaq is prepared for that.
"He might do it accidentally,” O’Neal said, "but I’ll be wearing a cup so I’m not worried.”
De La Hoya said as soon as he received a call from ABC asking to participate in the show a few months ago, he knew he had to do it. He is one of many athletes appearing in the new show, which pits Shaq against superior athletes in their sports.
Shaq played baseball against Albert Pujols, swam against Michael Phelps and cycled against Lance Armstrong, among others. As soon as ABC started planning the show, Shaq said a boxing match in Las Vegas was a must.
"It’s the fight capital of the world. Oscar is big here and I’m pretty big here,” O’Neal said. "We just wanted to come and give the people a good show.”
The last time Shaq came to Las Vegas for an athletic event was the 2007 NBA All-Star Game, when he scored 10 points and had six rebounds for the Eastern Conference.
Shaq said he still believed Las Vegas could one day be home to an NBA franchise.
"I understand David Stern’s concern with athletes who gamble, but if any organization could pull it off, it would be the Maloof family because they know Vegas pretty well,” O’Neal said. "But it would need to have one or two marquee players to get through because gamblers want to come gamble, not do other things.”
Shaq declined to offer a prediction on the fight against De La Hoya. He did, however, give himself the name Manny Shaquaio, a reference to Manny Pacquaio, who defeated De La Hoya in his final official fight in December.
De La Hoya wasn’t as bashful with his prognostication.
"I have to say I think I’m going to win, but I don’t think I’ll get the knockout,” De La Hoya said. "It might be impossible.”
CORRECTION: This story was changed to correct information about the weight of the gloves worn during the boxing match. | (August 19, 2009)
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