Boxing: De la Hoya sets date for 'superfight'

Two years ago Oscar de la Hoya had his eye on Floyd Mayweather, but at the time more than two stone in weight separated the pair.

On the weekend in Las Vegas, De la Hoya ended a two-year exile from the ring with arguably his finest-ever performance to stop Ricardo Mayorga in the sixth round to win the World Boxing Council light middleweight title.

De la Hoya, now 33, has held world titles at six weights in what has been one of boxing's most glorious careers, and he insists that he has just one fight left - and he has picked Mayweather for 16 September.

Mayweather is the International Boxing Federation welterweight champion, which means that the pair, who once seemed destined never to meet, are now separated by just 7lb in weight; there shall inevitably be a compromise because their superfight would generate a payday in excess of $25m ($38.85m) for each of them.

However, there is a slight problem as De la Hoya has Mayweather's estranged father, also called Floyd, in his corner, and it remains to be seen just how much hostility exists between father and son.

Mayweather has another problem because his uncle, Roger Mayweather, who is his trainer, has been banned from working in the corner because of a melee during a title fight last month.

Yesterday De la Hoya, after three months of insults and physical abuse from Mayorga, fought a brilliant tactical fight that left the champion broken-hearted in round six.

From the opening bell it was evident that De la Hoya had prepared perfectly, and that Mayorga clearly believed trading insults and slaps during their long rally of press conferences would give him the edge in the ring.

In round one Mayorga was dropped by a left hook and took a steady beating until he turned and dropped to the canvas in round six.

It was De la Hoya's 38th win in 42 fights, and there have been some modern classics involved during his 12 years as a world champion in various weight divisions; but it's doubtful that any of his previous performances were better.

- INDEPENDENT