Oscar De La Hoya Crushes Jorge Páez for Second World Title

The Olympic gold medalist knocked out the durable Mexican veteran in two rounds to claim the vacant WBO lightweight championship in only his 14th professional fight.

Oscar De La Hoya captured a second weight-class world title on July 29, 1994, by knocking out Jorge Páez in the second round at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The victory crowned the 21-year-old Olympic champion after just 14 professional bouts and reinforced his rapid climb through boxing’s elite.

The contest was part of Top Rank’s “Grand Rumble” card, televised by HBO before James Toney defended his IBF super middleweight championship against Charles Williams. A crowd of 8,011 watched referee Richard Steele oversee the action.

De La Hoya earned a reported purse of $800,000. Páez received $175,000 for challenging for the vacant title. Both fighters made weight comfortably, with De La Hoya weighing 135 pounds and Páez 134½.

Known for awkward movement, flashy entrances, and remarkable durability, Páez pressed forward early. His aggressive start forced De La Hoya to remain patient rather than chase an early finish. Clean punches were scarce throughout most of the opening session until De La Hoya connected with a late burst, convincing judges John Stewart, Jerry Roth, and Chuck Giampa to score the round 10-9 in his favor.

The fight ended just 39 seconds into the second session.

As Páez stepped forward behind a jab, De La Hoya uncorked a crushing left hand that snapped his opponent’s head back. A rapid combination followed, capped off by a signature short left hook. The blow dropped Páez to his knees before he rolled backward onto the canvas. Steele counted to ten while the Mexican veteran remained flat on his back.

Afterward, Páez admitted he remembered nothing after the knockout, confessing that no previous opponent had ever hit him with such force.

The knockout established De La Hoya (14-0, 13 KOs) as a two-division world champion less than two years into his professional career. The performance answered questions about how his power would translate against an accomplished veteran accustomed to elite competition.

De La Hoya planned several non-title appearances before returning to the lightweight title picture. Rafael Ruelas quickly emerged as one of the leading names under consideration, a matchup that later became one of boxing’s biggest attractions in the division.