the knee-jerk reaction is to exclaim that Jackson would one-punch him and all of that, but I give Oscar a serious chance of winning here... he was much more skilled than JJ, he had a good chin and I think even at 154, he packed enough of a whallop in the left hook to hurt Jackson, who never had the sturdiest beard in the business... It's somewhat a tightrope walk because Jackson hit SO hard, but if Jackson isn't hitting accurately, isn't in good positions of leverage, than that power is compromised greatly. I just think Oscar De La Hoya is on a different level than a guy like Jackson. JJ fought some "good" fighters and won and was a respectable beltholder with one very obvious talent: one-shot power... but he was fairly limited in the other aspects of the game and he never faced a fighter of DLH's pedigree, even if its above Hoya's best weight, he was still clearly an elite fighter when he competed at 154 (160 was a bridge too far, clearly)... I just don't know that the punch, as spectacular as it was, is enough to offset all of the things stacked against Jackson here. I eagerly await the responses of X and Slystaff who will say I'm insane for thinking that Julian Jackson was a fairly average world-level fighter with one outstanding attribute
I pick Oscar as well. His chin was very solid and he could do damage to Jackson too. Since that aspect is fairly even, it could come down to who wins the boxing match, and that would be Oscar. Close one but with an edge for DLH
Oscar was quite hittable at 154 and not nearly as mobile as he was at 147 where he was able to seamlessly weave in and out of the punch zone with his quick combinations. I don't think Oscar has the legs to stay away from Julian's power here. But P4P he's CLEARLY the better fighter.
I won't hesitate to pick Jackson by KO at 160. Still lean towards Jackson at 154, late rounds knockout. Oscar's power never really followed him above 140 (certain moments in 147) and was always an eight-round fighter stamina-wise. Not a very good mix when the job is to keep a concussive puncher at bay for 12 rounds. He can't afford to coast/give up rounds like he did in several fights in efforts to save up for a big finish. And short of that, I just don't see him going 12 strong with Jackson and not avoiding his power at some point.
Jackson didn't really carry his power through 12 either though. Luckily for Oscar. I can see Oscar getting off the canvas to win here. De la Hoya's chin really was stellar and it probably gets underrated on the back of him getting put on his bum a couple of times when he was inexperienced and fighting at too low a weight. It's a great MM though, I'd love to see it.
ODH out-boxes Jackson easy with his hand-speed, foot-work and jab, has some scary moments, but wins a decision, whether at 154 or 160. He'd make Jackson pay for all his misses, slowly consume Jackson's confidence, and have him tamed by the 9th round. I wouldn't rule out a knock-down or two scored by ODH, either, off a counter, especially at 154. ODH would've seen Jackson coming a million miles away.
Oscar looked like shit at 160, he gets knocked out there. At 154, I can agree with DLH getting off the canvas to win the decision. Much better all around fighter than JJ.
I'm just assuming it's at 154. Why have it at 160? It's like matching Foster and Charles at heavyweight.
That would make an interesting form of capital punishment... Sit in a chair while Julian Jackson launches right hands with loaded mitts
