Oscar De La Hoya

Oscar De La Hoya was born on February 4, 1973, in East Los Angeles. De La Hoya became one of the most successful boxers of his generation during his professional boxing career, spanning from 1992 to 2008. He won 11 world titles in six weight classes, including the lineal championship in three weight classes. He is the first American of Mexican descent to own a national boxing promotional firm, and one of the few boxers to take on promotional responsibilities while still active. His professional boxing career spanned more than 16 years, with a record of 39-6, which included 30 knockout wins and two losses via knockout, and 10 title wins.

De La Hoya made his professional boxing debut against Lamar Williams on November 23, 1992, at the age of 19, with a first-round KO. He went on to win his next 30 consecutive fights, including 24 wins via stoppage. He made history in May 1995 by becoming the unified lightweight world champion by beating Rafael Ruelas via 2nd round TKO. He then held ten world titles at six weight classes, making him one of the most decorated boxers in history.

Throughout his career, De La Hoya won many notable fights and titles. He won the WBO lightweight title against Jorge Paez via second-round knockout on July 29, 1994. After he defeated Rafael Ruelas in May 1995, he was declared the lightweight champion of the world by the WBO, WBC, and IBF all at the same time. In 1996, he won the WBC super-lightweight title from Julio César Chávez by beating Chávez via 4th round TKO. De La Hoya successfully defended the WBC super-lightweight title against Miguel Angel Gonzalez in January 1997. Following successive victories, De La Hoya then won the WBC welterweight title from Pernell Whitaker in April 1997 via 12 round unanimous decision.

De La Hoya successfully defended the WBC welterweight title against several notable boxers, including Ike Quartey in February 1999 and Fernando Vargas in September 2002. His last professional fight was a non-title bout against Manny Pacquiao on December 6, 2008, which he lost via 8th round RTD. He was subsequently inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) in 2014.

De La Hoya was a national hero in both the US and Mexico, earning himself dual citizenship in acknowledgment of his heritage. He is often credited with opening the door for Mexican and other Latin American fighters to move into mainstream boxing.

In 2002, De La Hoya founded Golden Boy Promotions, a combat sport promotional firm that owns a 25% stake in the Houston Dynamo. He is the first American of Mexican descent to own a national boxing promotional firm. In 2018, he began promoting MMA matches as well, beginning with a 2018 trilogy bout between long-time rivals Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz, with the inaugural Golden Boy MMA event taking place on November 24, 2018.

De La Hoya had a significant impact outside the ring as well. In 1992, he represented the United States at the Summer Olympics, winning a gold medal in the lightweight division, and reportedly "set a sport back on its feet." He has also generated approximately $700 million in pay-per-view income, making him the top pay-per-view earner before being surpassed by Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao. De La Hoya was named The Ring magazine Fighter of the Year in 1995 and was the top-rated fighter in the world, pound for pound, in 1997 and 1998.

De La Hoya's boxing prowess and his contribution to the sport both inside and outside the ring make him an all-time great. His legacy as an entrepreneur and a fighter continues to inspire many young fighters.

Oscar De La Hoya Fight Record