On Wednesday April 30th Golden Boy Promotions held the final press conference to promote the much awaited clash between the “Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya and Steve “Two Pounds” Forbes.  Held at the famed Café Pinot, one of the most prestigious restaurants in Los Angeles, the location could not be more fitting the event being billed as “Homecoming” which marks the first time in seven years that the native Los Angelino De La Hoya steps foot in a southern California ring.

With the Ivory Tower, the tallest building on the west coast casting a shadow despite the high clouds over the dais and with a healthy attendance of both assembled media and anxious fans, Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer began the press conference by stating “Steve Forbes has the opportunity of a lifetime.  He has nothing to lose and everything to gain which makes him a very dangerous opponent.”

Following Schaefer who acted as master of ceremonies, Jeff Wald of “The Contender” reality boxing series and also the promoter of record for Forbes took the opportunity to share” this is the super bowl of boxing.  Whether De La Hoya has a belt or not, De La Hoya is the champion.”  Wald continued “since we are in Hollywood, I say that Forbes won the Oscar.”

“Steve Forbes deserves this fight.  He is a gentleman and he has fought everybody that has been put in front of him,” Jeff Wald concluded as he introduced the former IBF super featherweight champion Steve Forbes.

Forbes (33-5, 9KO) seemed relaxed as if he had been on a worldwide stage many times before “what a ride these last few months have been.  I have read the reports and you guys don’t know nothing.  You guys say I can’t and I won’t but I say I can and I will,” Forbes stated.  He alluded to his unique nickname “Two Pounds” as he concluded “I have been fighting since birth; the doctors said that my heart couldn’t pump blood thru my body, but here I am.  I can compete with Oscar.”
Senior partner in Golden Boy Promotions and former undisputed middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins took a surprisingly brief turn at the podium “for those that think that this is something that De La Hoya should overlook, nobody should disrespect Stevie Forbes.  Stevie Forbes was known before the Contender.”

To the disappointment of many in attendance Floyd Mayweather Sr. “didn’t prepare any of my poems.  Steve Forbes is one of my peoples.  I trained Steve Forbes for nine fights and I know that this guy is going to be ready.  Like Hopkins said, he can not be taken lightly, he is a former world champion but I think we will prevail.  I know that Forbes will be ready and my brother will be ready.  Forbes is my peoples but Oscar is my man.”

Finally the man of the hour was called up to the podium to give his thoughts on the first fight of the last year of his illustrious career.  De La Hoya who later confirmed what everybody could clearly see, the fact that he was well under the 150 lbs. weight limit that his impending bout was contracted at opened his comments with “since this is my last year in boxing I plan to fight three times but everything starts with Steve Forbes.  I know many people have been saying that is just a tune up fight but I have learned my lesson on these so called tune up fights.”

“Forbes is a difficult fighter and hungry fighter.  I started preparing myself for this fight in January.  I never thought that I would make 147 lbs but for a month and a half, I have been at 147 lbs so if you say that Steve Forbes is a hungry fighter, believe me, I’m hungry!,” Oscar joked. 

By Felipe Leon   Photos by Big Joe Miranda