De La Hoya Confident

Oscar De La Hoya, an astute student of his trade, believes he learned something recently by watching tape of Pernell Whitaker’s draw with Julio Cesar Chavez three years ago.

De La Hoya, concluding a barnstorming tour to drum up interest for his match against Whitaker, said, “I saw that Whitaker couldn’t stop Chavez, so that shows that he doesn’t have the power to knock me out.”

Whitaker, who risks his WBC welterweight title against De La Hoya on Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, has lost just once and had one draw in his 42 career fights. But he’s won only 17 by knockout.