Oscar De La Hoya: A Brief Look Into His Boxing Style And Accomplishments

Oscar De La Hoya is one of the most legendary and recognizable names in boxing. During his professional career, he was world champion in six different divisions from super featherweight to middleweight from 1994 to 2007. Aside from being a great boxer, Oscar De La Hoya is also a successful boxing promoter through his company, Golden Boy Promotions.

Boxing style

Oscar De La Hoya was a boxer with refined technique and a solid punch (he managed to maintain a record of 30 victories – 24 of them by KO – and no defeats). His perfectly maintained image and his attractiveness also made him a real asset for the boxing business. Oscar De La Hoya’s career was marked by the achievement of six world championships in different weight categories.

In his first fight after the defeat against Felix Trinidad, at Madison Square Garden in New York, Oscar De La Hoya returned with an image very similar to that of his best moments. In seven rounds he knocked out his compatriot Derrell Coley showing his best weapons: quickness of hands and effectiveness at distance, finishing the task with an accurate hook to the liver of his rival, whom he finished off with a devastating right hand to the body.

On March 24, 2001, he fought with Canadian Arturo Gatti at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, his opponent threw in the towel and De La Hoya won by TKO in 5 rounds.

Super welterweight

He fought in the super welterweight category on June 23, 2001, at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, facing the WBC super welterweight world champion, the Spanish Javier Castillejo. In the 12th round, he knocks down Castillejo, who stands up to finish the fight. The judges declared him the winner by unanimous decision and he became the super welterweight world champion.

On September 13, 2003, he faced Shane Mosley for the second time, at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, for the WBC-WBA Super Welterweight Double Crown, with Mosley winning by unanimous decision. In the anti-doping test, the winner tested positive for steroids. Mosley later confessed to using steroids before the fight.

WBO World Title

De La Hoya fought on June 5, 2004, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for his sixth world title against WBO Middleweight World Champion Felix Sturm of Germany. Oscar De La Hoya won the WBO Middleweight World Title.

First KO

On September 18, 2004, at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, he lost for the first time in his career by KO to world middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins.

He returned on May 6, 2006, facing the Nicaraguan Ricardo Mayorga, for the WBC super welterweight world title. He won by TKO in six rounds, becoming world champion again. On May 5, 2007, he entered the ring again to face the undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. who defeated him in twelve rounds.

On May 3, 2008, he fought American Steve Forbes at the Home Depot Stadium in Carson, California, and won with difficulty. He would later face Manny Pacquiao to whom he lost by TKO in eight rounds.