Guts and Glory- Oscar De La Hoya
December 3rd, 2009
By Klaas Mabetlela: Oscar De La Hoya was never really one of my favourite boxers but there is no denying that he helped to put boxing on the map during his career. His body of work is solid, he brought back non-fans to boxing and people appreciated his guts in taking the best and biggest fights out there even when he did not have to.
De La Hoya fought everyone, lost to some and won against many. The difference is that he fought them all and preferred not to take safety first route in most cases. His list includes all-time greats like Julio Cesar Chavez, Bernard Hopkins, Pernell Whitaker, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. He also fought great fighters like Shane Mosley as well as solid champs like Miguel Angel Gonzalez, Juan Molina, Hector Camacho, Ike Quartey and many others.
He lost some fights and won and lost few controversial decisions as well. What set him apart was his willingness to take the biggest fights out there and always gave his best. He beat an aging Julio Cesar Chavez twice, got stopped by bigger Hopkins after being ahead on cards and won a controversial decision against an aging Pernell Whitaker after being dropped. Floyd Mayweather decisioned him and Manny Pacquiao gave him a beating of his life but he was way past his best. Shane Mosley caused a major upset when as a lightweight champ beat a bigger welterweight champ in De La Hoya. Mosley controversially won the rematch 3 years later.
Oscar is one of the few modern fighters that commanded universal following and appreciation. His race was always there for him- the human race.
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Oscar was one of the most consistently robbed guys in the history of the sport. Just look at the Trinidad and Mosley II results.
By fighting Oscar and his established popularity a fighter could multiply their purse+he would take on anyone and NOT AT A CATCH WEIGHT!I believe therefore he was worthy of the larger percentage
The biggest ppvs all involved Oscar!Pac defeated his ghost remember and that is not sour grapes just a fact!
Oscar developed and enhanced the pay of the lower weights through his popularity-Pac should be thankfull of this!
ps-had a prime Oscar fought a prime Pac,I have no doubt that De la Hoya would have stopped him.
I hate to say this about Oscar, but he was the GREEDIEST BOXER I have ever seen. Check the percentage of the purse that he cheated fighters like Manny, compared to him. I’m glad he’s out of the sport, and fighters like Manny who really deserve the better cut is well compensated.
Oscar only lost 1 at his best,Mosley 1!He avenged this,educated Trinidad,fought everyone of note-but unfortunately became occupied by family and business.This undoubtedly distracted or burdened him and he wasn’t the same.That said,although semi-retired,his sratus remained in my eyes,one of the best ever and a legend
I agree with you. He is one of the best boxer in modern time and made a lot of money in boxing. He is the top draw card in his prime and always command the bigger share of the purse in most of his fights. One thing I admire about Oscar dela Hoya is that his is FEARLESS, win or lose. That’s a hallmark of a great boxer.