The Next Great Champ, Episode 3: Rocky, This Ain't

It was a big weekend for Next Great Champ host Oscar de la Hoya, as his huge middleweight title unification fight took place on Saturday, September 18th. Let's just say he did about as well in the fight as his show is doing in the ratings.

Oscar was knocked out in the ninth round by IBF, WBA, and WBC Middleweight Champ Bernard Hopkins with a left hook right under De la Hoya's ribs. It was the first time Oscar was knocked out in his career, and it cost him his WBO Title, as Hopkins became Undisputed Middleweight Champion. At the time of the knockout, Hopkins was ahead on two of the three judges' scorecards.

What does this mean for Next Great Champ? You may remember that the winner was promised "a possible" title fight. I had figured that the inference there was "if Oscar beats Hopkins." Now that De la Hoya doesn't have the belt, I'm guessing that title shot won't happen.

From bad to worse - at least the fight this weekend lived up to its billing - let's move on to this week's show.

After winning the fight last week, Fred Bachmann walks in to a hero's welcome, at least from his brother and the Parejas. Gilbert Zaragoza says one fight is nothing. Rene says they think their poop don't stink. Sounds like sour grapes to me. David Pareja says that no one likes a champ. Yeah, that would explain why everybody hates Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Oscar de la Hoya…

Trainer Tommy Brooks meets them at the gym the next day, and puts the winner's circle (Pareja and Bachmann) off to the side. He says there's a lot of tension in the loft, since everyone's crapping on winner's circle. He says anyone who has something to say, say it now. No one speaks up until Gil says Pareja could be more humble. Gil tells us that Pareja knows he's not the man he says he is. Pareja says Gil thinks because he's Mexican and ugly, he can box. Broken record on aisle two.

Otis Griffin says that he heard Fred said that he isn't in as good a shape as he thinks he is. Fred says if he's going to say something, he says it to their face and asks who said it. Gil says he told Otis that, and the two argue.

Oscar comes in and starts sparring with his trainer. The guys are impressed by his speed. He tells them they all love what they do - it's only twelve minutes (not that they would bother to show twelve whole minutes) and they don't want to regret anything in the ring. Go to work!

Oscar gives the guys tips as they train. Rene says that since he's a young Latino power puncher, the comparisons to De la Hoya came up quick - including from me. Paul Scianna gets some good tips from Oscar. Paul says he's serious when he boxes, as opposed to other boxers who clown around the whole time. Paul and Gil spar, but after two rounds Paul is out of gas.

The boxers and confidants take vans out to the airstrip - this week's challenge is a test of stamina. They have to pull a truck with a harness, kind of like a horse or beast of burden. It's two tons they're pulling over a quarter mile! Scianna knows he's in for it. Well, he's going to be ranked last tonight. As always, the winner is ranked #1 and wins $10,000. Rene thinks he'll be first. And since they've already won their fights, Pareja and Bachmann sit out.

Scianna says he's unstoppable when he's got his focus on. Uh oh. Paul is in the lead in the early going when Jimmy Mince blows past him like he's standing still and wins by a mile. His time is one minute, nineteen seconds. In the second heat, Mike complains that he feels something "pulling" his leg. Rene blows by everyone "like Forrest Gump," and wins.