HBO
Oscar De La Hoya was born in Montebello, California in 1973 and is a 3rd technology boxer after his Mexican grandfather and father earlier than him had been each fighters in their very own proper.
Starting at a younger age, Oscar De La Hoya had over 2 hundred newbie fights. The teenager misplaced only a handful of bouts earlier than claiming the 1989 Nationwide Golden Gloves Bantamweight Title.
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In 1991, he was U.S Novice boxer of the 12 months. A 12 months later, he certified for the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.
De La Hoya duly returned to the U.S with the Gold medal round his neck and earned himself a nickname; ‘The Golden Boy.’
Inside two months, Oscar had his first skilled contest lined up. Losing no vitality, he knocked out Lamar Williams with just one minute forty-two seconds on the timekeeper’s clock.
De La Hoya adopted up his maiden victory with ten knockouts in his subsequent eleven bouts. In simply his twelfth battle, most of them being at light-weight, he was supplied the prospect to drop down a weight and battle for his first world title.
Unbeaten fighter Jimmy Bredahl stood in his manner of future. Bredahl was making his second protection of the WBO super-featherweight title he’d claimed two years beforehand.
The battle happened on Oscar’s dwelling soil in California on March fifth, 1994. In entrance of a cheering dwelling crowd, De La Hoya out-boxed the Danish southpaw.
De La Hoya scored a tenth-round technical knockout and claimed the coveted belt at simply 21.
LAS VEGAS
De La Hoya would defend the title simply as soon as, two months later, within the metropolis which might in the end turn into his boxing dwelling, Las Vegas. On the undercard of a Roy Jones Jr. title protection, De La Hoya rapidly knocked out Giorgio Campanella.
After Campanella, he enhanced his weight. De La Hoya would then tackle Jorge Paez for the light-weight model of his WBO title.
4 months after claiming the super-featherweight model, he overwhelmed the skilled ex-featherweight ruler. De La Hoya picked up his second world title with a second-round KO.
Two knockout defenses adopted in 1994 earlier than De La Hoya simply out-pointed John Molina on the MGM Grand. This state of affairs led him right into a unification battle with IBF light-weight champion Rafael Ruelas.
At 24, Ruelas had a formidable 43 wins from his 44 contests. The Jalisco man was making the third protection of the title he took from Freddie Pendleton a 12 months earlier.
De La Hoya was once more at his ruthless greatest, knocking out Ruelas inside two rounds to assert the third world title of his profession in solely his 18th battle as knowledgeable.
At this level, the indicators of greatness had been already evident in De La Hoya. Even at a comparatively tender age. The entire of America had seemingly warmed to the younger skinny child with a shiny smile and the film star’s attractiveness.
Persevering with his profession and sensing extra accolades, Oscar would instantly hand over the IBF model of his title. He would as an alternative make two defenses of his WBO Title in 1995. One was an unbelievable second-round knockout of Jesse James Leija at Madison Sq. Backyard.
CHAVEZ
A routine stoppage of Darryl Tyson in a February 1996 non-title contest led to a weight class leap: going face-to-face together with his childhood idol was on the playing cards. De La Hoya would battle WBC light-welterweight champion and all-around Mexican legend Julio Cesar Chavez at Caesars Palace in April.
Chavez was a Mexican nationwide hero, with just one loss in 98 bouts. To not point out Chavez had 5 world titles behind him and baggage of guile with ample expertise.
The 34-year-old celebrity was purported to be the hardest take a look at of De La Hoya’s profession.
De La Hoya got here into the ring with a Mexican flag on his shorts. However because of his 1992 Olympic Gold Medal for the USA, the Mexicans had been all for Chavez. Some even took it upon themselves to boo the brand new American idol.
Many individuals imagine the battle ought to by no means have taken place within the first place stemming from Oscar’s personal double nationality connections. However it did, and De La Hoya got here out on prime in a pulverizing four-round efficiency. Proving past doubt, he was on the peak of his powers. Chavez, in distinction, was possibly on the finish of his.
Oscar had an excessive amount of pace and energy for the one-time ‘unbeatable’ Chavez. And after the physician took a have a look at his blood-stained face, referee Joe Cortez waved the battle off to crown Oscar the winner. He added the WBC title at 140lbs to his rising belt assortment.
GONZALEZ
Miguel Angel Gonzalez was the subsequent challenger to De La Hoya’s crown, because it occurred one other Mexican. Gonzalez was unbeaten in 41 contests and a former WBC light-weight title-holder.
Each weight Oscar moved up appeared to make him larger and stronger. The additional 5 kilos virtually added an additional layer of muscle to De La Hoya, which should have unnerved his opponents.
Gonzalez proved an actual demanding buyer, although. He took Oscar the space for less than the second time in his profession, regardless that the judges handed out a simple factors victory and a twenty third profession win.
WHITAKER
Oscar was taking up all comers by now, shifting up the weights once more to face among the finest pound-for-pound fighters on the planet in 1997 – Pernell Whitaker.
Whitaker had solely misplaced as soon as in a contentious cut up choice. ‘Candy Pea’ was additionally the primary man to cease Julio Cesar Chavez from successful a battle on the top of his powers.
The American had additionally held some type of a world title for over eight years. Pre-fight predictions anticipated Whitaker to push De La Hoya all the way in which.
One other robust twelve rounder ensued, though De La Hoya had matured a lot he might choose an opponent aside spherical by spherical. This enhancement enabled him to get factors within the bag, as he did with Whitaker when gaining a unanimous triumph.
Successful his fifth world title in a fourth completely different weight division, it was clear that the person was exceptional. He proved it once more simply two months later by knocking out David Kamau in two rounds. A person who had misplaced simply as soon as in 29 contests and by no means taken out.
Regardless of the weight, whoever the opponent, Oscar appeared to know a manner round his challengers. He had the boxing mind, the talents, and the devastating energy to go together with it. All this made for an outstandingly gifted fighter.
CHAVEZ II
By the again finish of 1997, De La Hoya appeared settled at welterweight. After the Kamau knockout, he made one other six defenses, beating a 35-year-old Hector Camacho and an unbeaten Ike Quartey. He adopted that up by defeating an over-the-hill Julio Cesar Chavez in an pointless rematch 4 years after their first assembly.
One 12 months on, De La Hoya had the chance so as to add a sixth world title to his haul in opposition to undefeated knockout specialist Felix Trinidad on the Mandalay Bay On line casino in Las Vegas.
It was the largest pay-per-view occasion for a non-heavyweight contest on the time. After twelve pulsating rounds, Trinidad took a majority choice to inflict De La Hoya’s first skilled defeat in his seven-year profession.
Followers clambered for a rematch between the 2 fighters. However after a five-month break, Oscar selected a warm-up bout first. Simply defeating Derrell Colley (34-1-2) for the lowly regarded IBA welterweight title by way of a seventh-round KO, De La Hoya was as soon as once more prepared for Trinidad. It sadly wasn’t meant to be.
Earlier than De La Hoya’s victory over Colley, Trinidad had shockingly determined to maneuver as much as light-middleweight to problem David Reid for his WBA Title, scuppering any likelihood of a extremely anticipated rematch between the pair.
Oscar agreed on a take care of undefeated former IBF light-weight champion “Sugar” Shane Mosley in a welterweight super-fight for the WBC title.
Whether or not the Trinidad loss had affected his confidence or the preparation wasn’t correct are each hypothetical theories for the result. Oscar shockingly misplaced for the second time – once more on factors.
GATTI
De La Hoya moved on. He’d already battled the rugged Arturo Gatti earlier than the Mosley contest went forward. Each units of followers needed to see the battle no matter title involvement.
Oscar went forward with the Gatti encounter planning a transfer as much as light-middleweight instantly afterward.
On account of holding an excessive amount of total brute energy for the previous super-featherweight champion, De La Hoya beat an out-of-depth Gatti by way of a fifth-round TKO.
It was Gatti’s penultimate battle earlier than his legacy-sealing trilogy with Mickey Ward.
Round this time, Oscar determined to have a look at a profession exterior of boxing and introduced the formation of ‘Golden Boy Promotions.’ A enterprise the place he would now promote his fights together with different boxers. To take among the slack, he enlisted the assistance of Richard Schaefer as his right-hand man and CEO.
True to his phrase after the Gatti battle, Oscar moved as much as light-middleweight to problem Javier Castillejo for the WBC title in June 2001. As soon as once more, De La Hoya discovered a house on the MGM Grand. Dominating the Spaniard to take his title, a now 28 year-old De La Hoya received by a landslide factors margin for an additional strap.
It meant a seventh world title in 5 weight divisions was within the bag for the Golden Boy.
VARGAS
De La Hoya would now face an previous newbie foe for his subsequent problem as a unification battle with WBA Champion Fernando Vargas was in talks.
Their rivalry dated again years, and regardless that De La Hoya had initially stated he wouldn’t battle Vargas, he lastly signed the contract for early 2002.
Nicknamed ‘Unhealthy Blood,’ the title stated all of it. However the rivalry would solely intensify as Vargas acquired compelled to tug out of the primary scheduled assembly with a hand damage. The postponement meant that by the point the battle went forward in September 2002, Oscar hadn’t fought since June 2001.
The times of Oscar dominating his opponents had now gone. ‘The Golden Boy’ had discovered his degree, and any champion over 147lbs can be a stern take a look at for him. Vargas didn’t disappoint, taking Oscar lengthy earlier than succumbing to his energy within the eleventh spherical.
An eighth world title for De La Hoya was a unbelievable achievement. After the battle, even a Vargas optimistic medicine take a look at couldn’t take the shine off Oscar’s achievement.
Eight months later, he would return to the ring. Oscar knocked out an getting old Luis Ramon Campos in Might 2003. It was then a rematch with one among solely two males to have defeated him.
MOSLEY II
Shane Mosley II acquired penciled in for September 2003 on the MGM Grand.
De La Hoya had an ideal 6-0 document when preventing on the MGM Grand and was assured of avenging his defeat to ‘Sugar’ Shane three years earlier.
Despite the fact that De La Hoya threw extra punches than Mosley, it was as soon as once more his boogeyman opponent who got here out on prime. Within the course of, Mosley took the WBC light-middleweight title with him.
Oscar instantly moved as much as middleweight, 31 and one quarter kilos heavier than his first world title victory. Focusing his consideration on the unbeaten WBO middleweight champion Felix Sturm. The German acquired checked out as one of many weakest of the 160lb champions.
With a sport plan in thoughts, although, De La Hoya hoped for a money-spinning super-fight with unified champion Bernard ‘The Executioner’ Hopkins. On the time, Hopkins was the pound-for-pound king after an astonishing run at middleweight.
Oscar knew he’d want a title to make the battle occur as ‘B-Hop’ held three middleweight belts (WBC, IBF, and WBA). Focusing on Sturm’s WBO Title was the right tactic to safe a Pay-Per-View blockbuster.
Making De La Hoya look aged and wilted at occasions, Sturm pushed the multi-weight ruler because the pre-fight favourite struggled to out-work the hungrier champion.
In controversial circumstances, De La Hoya one way or the other acquired the choice. Within the course of, he picked up Sturm’s crown. Judges noticed it 115-113 on all three playing cards in favor of Oscar, whereas most journalists at ringside had Sturm successful the battle.
HOPKINS
If considerably contentiously, Oscar’s ninth world title in six weight divisions hit the document books. A mega match-up with Hopkins was then capable of be penciled in for September 2004, simply three months later.
Hopkins was a giant, robust middleweight. Subsequently, the bout acquired agreed at a catch-weight of 156lbs.
As regular, the MGM Grand hosted as De La Hoya headed again to the scene of his notorious defeat to Mosley twelve months earlier than.
Curiosity within the battle was immense. Each rivals stood to earn a staggering $30 million on the evening. With an array of Hollywood stars ringside, lots of of thousands and thousands of individuals watched on TV.
SIZE
Many individuals noticed Hopkins’ dimension benefit because the deciding issue. It proved to be the case as De La Hoya took a physique shot within the ninth spherical, ending his unification hopes after a fairly one-sided battle.
Reassessing his state of affairs, Oscar took virtually two years out of the ring in what proved to be a semi-retirement. He then signed on to battle Ricardo Mayorga in an try and win again the WBC light-middleweight belt he held between 2001 and 2003.
Mayorga confirmed De La Hoya an entire lack of respect within the build-up to what finally turned out to be a full-blown grudge match. The bout happened in Might 2006. With insults about his spouse ringing if his ears, Oscar pounded Mayorga to the ground within the first spherical. He completed off the Nicaraguan with a sixth-round onslaught.
The win for Oscar meant a unprecedented tenth world title in six completely different weight divisions. It was merely including yet one more layer of gloss to an already intensive legacy for the Olympic champion.
MAYWEATHER
Oscar would experience his victory for round 9 months earlier than a assured Floyd Mayweather Jr. determined to maneuver up from welterweight and problem him.
Accepting the provide, De La Hoya appeared reverse Mayweather in a conflict branded ‘The World Awaits.’ The PPV happened on Might fifth, 2007.
It could be yet one more battle in opposition to a person thought of the perfect pound-for-pound fighter. De La Hoya rolled again the years at occasions in a formidable exhibiting. In the end, he would come up brief in opposition to the undefeated ‘Fairly Boy’ – dropping on a cut up choice regardless of urgent Mayweather for the entire twelve rounds.
One other nine-month absence adopted earlier than the lure of the ring had him again in coaching. A collision with blown-up super-featherweight Steve ‘2 kilos’ Forbes hit the desk at a catch-weight of 150lbs.
The battle was a extremely winnable affair that might result in one thing larger.
There was no title on the road, however Oscar utterly out-classed the smaller Forbes to take a unanimous choice. He received almost each spherical on all three judges’ scorecards.
PACQUIAO
It could be a perfect warm-up battle to construct confidence again up. WBC light-weight champion Manny Pacquiao was mendacity in wait simply across the nook.
Pacquiao v De La Hoya was secured for December 2008. A non-title battle at catch-weight of 145lbs.
Many individuals doubted whether or not De La Hoya nonetheless had the instruments to go together with his want at 35. As Pacquiao had moved up from flyweight over 9 years, some thought Oscar’s energy might nonetheless be a telling issue.
Pacquiao confirmed unbelievable energy on the evening. ‘Pacman’ cemented himself as one of many pound-for-pound greatest on the planet by stopping Oscar on his stool within the eighth spherical. It was a dominant win for Pacquiao, and the writing was on the wall for De La Hoya from that time.
Trying like a shadow of his former self, De La Hoya was bodily taken aside by the Filipino boxer, a five-weight world champion. Pacquiao was on the peak of his powers, whereas Oscar was on the finish of the highway.
After successful ten world titles in six completely different weights, Oscar De La Hoya formally retired from skilled boxing on April 14th, 2009.
OSCAR DE LA HOYA TITLES
World Boxing Group super-featherweight champion (1994)
WBO light-weight champion (1994-1995)
Worldwide Boxing Federation light-weight champion (1995)
World Boxing Council light-welterweight champion (1996-1997)
WBC welterweight champion (1997-2000)
WBC light-middleweight champion (2001-2003)
World Boxing Affiliation light-middleweight champion (2002-2003)
WBO middleweight champion (2004)
WBC light-middleweight champion (2006-2007)
*IBA not counted
To this present day, Oscar’s firm, Golden Boy Promotions, stays a big participant in boxing.
WBN Editor Phil has over ten years of boxing information expertise. Observe WBN us on Twitter @WorldBoxingNews.
