Oscar De La Hoya: The Golden Years [1989 – 2009]

World Boxing Information seems at ‘The Golden Years’ of boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya between 1989 and 2009.

De La Hoya was born in Montebello, California, in 1973 and is a third-generation boxer after his Mexican grandfather and father earlier than him had been each fighters in their very own proper.

Oscar De La Hoya’s beginner profession

De La Hoya had over 2 hundred beginner fights starting at a younger age. The teenager misplaced only a handful of bouts earlier than claiming the 1989 Nationwide Golden Gloves Bantamweight Title.

In 1991, he was the US Novice Boxer of the Yr. A 12 months later, he certified for the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. De La Hoya duly returned to the US 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 power, 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 his twelfth combat, most of them at light-weight, he was provided the possibility to drop down a weight and combat 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 combat occurred on Oscar’s house soil in California on March fifth, 1994. In entrance of a cheering house 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.

First combat in Las Vegas

De La Hoya would defend the title simply as soon as, two months later, within the metropolis that will in the end grow to be his boxing house, Las Vegas. On the undercard of a Roy Jones Jr. title protection, De La Hoya shortly 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 situation 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 combat as an expert.

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 vibrant smile and the film star’s beauty.

Persevering with his profession and sensing extra accolades, Oscar would instantly hand over the IBF model of his title. He would as a substitute make two defenses of his WBO Title in 1995. One was an unbelievable second-round knockout of Jesse James Leija at Madison Sq. Backyard.

Julio Cesar Chavez rivalry

A routine stoppage of Darryl Tyson in a February 1996 non-title contest led to a weight class leap: going face-to-face along 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, luggage of guile, and ample expertise. The 34-year-old famous person was speculated to be the hardest check of De La Hoya’s profession.

De La Hoya got here into the ring with a Mexican flag on his shorts. Nevertheless, the Mexicans had been all for Chavez attributable to his 1992 Olympic Gold Medal for the USA. Some even took it upon themselves to boo the brand new American idol. Many individuals consider the combat ought to by no means have occurred within the first place, stemming from Oscar’s double nationality connections. However it did, and De La Hoya got here out on high in a pulverizing four-round efficiency. Proving past doubt he was on the peak of his powers. Chavez, in distinction, was perhaps on the finish of his.

Oscar had an excessive amount of velocity 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 combat off to crown Oscar the winner. He added the WBC title at 140lbs to his rising belt assortment.

Miguel Angel Gonzalez was the following 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 titleholder. Each weight Oscar moved up appeared to make him larger and stronger. The additional 5 kilos nearly added further bulk to De La Hoya, which should have unnerved his opponents. Gonzalez proved a demanding buyer, although. He took Oscar the space for less than the second time in his profession, despite the fact that the judges handed out a simple factors victory and a twenty third profession win.

Pernell Whitaker

Oscar was taking over all comers by now, transferring up the weights once more to face among the finest pound-for-pound fighters on this planet in 1997 – Pernell Whitaker. Whitaker had solely misplaced as soon as in a contentious break up choice. ‘Candy Pea’ was additionally the primary man to cease Julio Cesar Chavez from profitable a combat on the top of his powers.

The American had additionally held a world title for over eight years. Pre-fight predictions anticipated Whitaker to push De La Hoya all the best way. One other powerful twelve-rounder ensued, though De La Hoya had matured a lot he may decide 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 totally different weight division, it was clear that the person was outstanding. Two months later, he proved it once more by knocking out David Kamau in two rounds. Kamau had misplaced simply as soon as in 29 contests and had by no means been taken out.

Oscar appeared to know a manner round his challengers, regardless of the weight, whoever the opponent. He had the boxing mind, the talents, and the devastating energy to go along with it. All this made for an outstandingly gifted fighter.

Chavez rematch

By the top 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 later, De La Hoya had the chance so as to add a sixth-world title to his haul towards 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.

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 affected his confidence or the preparation wasn’t correct is a hypothetical principle of the result. Oscar shockingly misplaced for the second time – once more on factors.

De La Hoya moved on. He’d already battled the rugged Arturo Gatti earlier than the Mosley contest went forward. Each units of followers wished to see the combat no matter title involvement.

Oscar went forward with the Gatti encounter, planning a transfer as much as light-middleweight instantly afterward. Attributable to 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 combat earlier than his legacy-sealing trilogy with Mickey Ward.

Golden Boy Promotions

Round this time, Oscar determined to have a look at a profession outdoors 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 a number of the slack, he enlisted the assistance of Richard Schaefer as his right-hand man and CEO.

True to his phrase after the Gatti combat, 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 one more strap. It meant a seventh world title in 5 weight divisions was within the bag for the Golden Boy.

De La Hoya would now face an outdated beginner foe for his subsequent problem as a unification combat with WBA Champion Fernando Vargas was in talks. Their rivalry dated again years, and despite the fact that De La Hoya had initially mentioned he wouldn’t combat Vargas, he lastly signed the contract for early 2002.

Nicknamed ‘Dangerous Blood,’ the title mentioned all of it. However the rivalry would solely intensify as Vargas received compelled to drag out of the primary scheduled assembly with a hand damage. The postponement meant that by the point the combat went forward in September 2002, Oscar hadn’t fought since June 2001.

The times of Oscar dominating his opponents had been over. ‘The Golden Boy’ had discovered his degree, and any champion over 147lbs could be a stern check 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 improbable achievement. After the combat, even a Vargas optimistic drug check couldn’t take the shine off Oscar’s achievement.

Eight months later, he would return to the ring. Oscar knocked out an growing old Luis Ramon Campos in Might 2003. It was then a rematch with one in all solely two males to have defeated him.

Mosley and Hopkins

Shane Mosley II received penciled in for September 2003 on the MGM Grand. De La Hoya had an ideal 6-0 report when combating on the MGM Grand and was assured of avenging his defeat to ‘Sugar’ Shane three years earlier.

Although De La Hoya threw extra punches than Mosley, it was as soon as once more his boogeyman opponent who got here out on high. 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 was thought-about one of many weakest of the 160lb champions.

With a recreation 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 combat 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 instances, Sturm pushed the multi-weight ruler because the pre-fight favourite struggled to outwork the hungrier champion. In controversial circumstances, De La Hoya by some means received 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 profitable the combat.

If considerably contentiously, Oscar’s ninth world title in six weight divisions hit the report books. A mega match-up with Hopkins might be penciled in for September 2004, simply three months later.

Hopkins was a giant, sturdy middleweight. Subsequently, the bout was agreed at a catch-weight of 156lbs. As regular, the MGM Grand hosted as De La Hoya returned to the scene of his notorious defeat to Mosley twelve months earlier than. Curiosity within the combat was immense. Each opponents stood to earn a staggering $30 million on the evening. Lots of of hundreds of thousands of individuals watched on TV with an array of Hollywood stars ringside.

Many individuals noticed Hopkins’ measurement benefit because the deciding issue. It proved the case as De La Hoya took a physique shot within the ninth spherical, ending his unification hopes after a one-sided battle.

Reassessing his scenario, Oscar took nearly two years out of the ring in what proved to be a semi-retirement. He then signed on to combat Ricardo Mayorga to 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 in 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 rare tenth world title in six totally different weight divisions. It added another layer of gloss to an already in depth legacy for the Olympic champion.

Mayweather and Pacquiao

Oscar would enjoy his victory for 9 months earlier than a assured Floyd Mayweather Jr. determined to maneuver up from welterweight and problem him. Accepting the supply, De La Hoya appeared reverse Mayweather in a conflict branded ‘The World Awaits.’ The PPV happened on Might fifth, 2007.

It might be one other combat towards a person thought-about the most effective pound-for-pound fighter. De La Hoya rolled again the years in a formidable manner. In the end, he would come up brief towards the undefeated ‘Fairly Boy’ – dropping on a break up choice regardless of urgent Mayweather for 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 combat was a extremely winnable affair that would result in one thing larger. No title was on the road, however Oscar fully outclassed the smaller Forbes to take a unanimous choice. He received practically each spherical on all three judges’ scorecards.

It might be a super warm-up combat to construct confidence again up. WBC light-weight champion Manny Pacquiao was mendacity in wait simply across the nook. His workforce secured Pacquiao vs De La Hoya for December 2008 as a non-title combat at catch-weight of 145lbs.

Many doubted whether or not De La Hoya had the instruments to go along with his want at 35. As Pacquiao had moved up from flyweight over 9 years, some thought Oscar’s energy may nonetheless be a telling issue. Pacquiao confirmed unbelievable energy on the evening. ‘Pac-Man’ cemented himself as one of many pound-for-pound greatest on this 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, the Filipino boxer, a five-weight world champion, bodily took aside De La Hoya. Pacquiao was on the peak of his powers, whereas Oscar was on the finish of the highway.

After profitable ten world titles in six totally different weights, Oscar De La Hoya formally retired from skilled boxing on April 14th, 2009.

Oscar De La Hoya World Titles received

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

A failed comeback in 2021 towards Vitor Belfort left De La Hoya definitively out of any future exhibition discuss. However to today, Oscar’s firm, Golden Boy Promotions, stays a major participant in boxing.

Learn all articles and unique interviews by Phil Jay. Be taught extra concerning the writer, skilled boxing author, and World Boxing Information Editor since 2010. Comply with on Twitter @PhilJWBN.