Top 10 Facts about Oscar De La Hoya

A photo of Oscar De La Hoya by U.S. Navy photo (Released) – Wikimedia commons

Top 10 Facts about Oscar De La Hoya

Oscar De La Hoya was born on 4 February 1973. He is an American boxing promoter and former professional boxer who competed from 1992 to 2008. His accolades include winning 11 world titles in six weight classes, including the lineal championship in three weight classes.

He participated in the 1992 Summer Olympics where, shortly after having graduated from James A. Garfield High School, he won a gold medal in the lightweight division, and reportedly “set a sport back on its feet.” In the article are the top ten facts about Oscar De La Hoya.

1. He was nicknamed The Golden Boy of boxing

Oscar De La Hoya photo by Salvation Army USA West – Wikimedia commons

Oscar was nicknamed “The Golden Boy of boxing” because he was the only U.S. boxer to take home a gold medal at the 1992 Olympics.

The 1992 Summer officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad and commonly known as Barcelona ’92, was an international multi-sport event held from 25 July to 9 August 1992 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.

So, Oscar joined the Barcelona ’92 shortly after having graduated from James A. Garfield High School. To be exclusive, he represented the United States in boxing. Fortunately, a high school leaver won a gold medal in the lightweight division, and reportedly “set a sport back on its feet.”. This is why he was nicknamed the Golden Boy.

2. De La Hoya was named The Ring magazine Fighter of the Year in 1995

The Ring magazine was established in 1922 and has been named a Fighter of the Year since 1928, which this list covers. The magazine editors selected the award based on a boxer’s performance in the ring.

Oscar was named The Ring magazine Fighter of the Year in 1995 because he was a top-rated pound-for-pound fighter in the world in 1997 and 1998.

3. De La Hoya founded Golden Boy Promotions in 2002

De La Hoya photo by DEWALT POWER TOOLS FIGHT NIGHT CLUB 2010 – Wikimedia commons

Golden Boy Promotions, Inc. is an American boxing promotional firm based in Los Angeles, California. The company was established in 2002 by eight-time world champion (in six divisions) Oscar De La Hoya, borrowing his nickname “Golden Boy.”

The Golden Boy Promotions is a combat sports promotional firm that also owns a 25% stake in the Houston Dynamo. 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.

4. De La Hoya has dual citizenship in United States and Mexico

His parents emigrated from Mexico to the United States before his birth. He was born in East Los Angeles, California into a boxing family. That is why De La Hoya was eligible to have Dual Citizenship i. e born by Mexican parents but born on the soil of the United States.

His grandfather, Vicente, was an amateur fighter during the 1940s, and his father, Joel Sr., had been a professional boxer during the 1960s. His brother, Joel Jr., was also a boxer. De La Hoya graduated from Garfield High School in East Los Angeles, California in 1991.

5. De La Hoya verses IBF Champion Félix Trinidad

Felix Trinidad throwing a punch at Roy Jones photo by matt borowick – Wikimedia commons

After seven defences of his lineal and WBC welterweight titles, De La Hoya fought rival and IBF Champion Félix Trinidad (35–0) on September 18, 1999. This was one of the biggest pay-per-view events in history, setting a record for a non-heavyweight fight.

De La Hoya stayed just outside Trinidad’s range while generating much success with his stiff jab and blitzing combinations, but in the last 2-3 rounds of the fight, heeding the strict instructions of his corner, who felt that De La Hoya was way ahead on the scorecards, De La Hoya shut down much of his offence and evaded trading with Trinidad.

De La Hoya virtually gave away the last couple of rounds. Though landing well over 100 more punches, Trinidad was ultimately awarded a majority decision. The judges’ scorecards came into question after the decision.

6. De La Hoya retire in 2009

De La Hoya announced his retirement on April 14, 2009. By announcing his retirement he ended any speculation about a potential fight with Julio César Chávez Jr., son of the former champion and Mexican icon Julio César Chávez, Sr.

Later in 2009, De La Hoya held an exhibition boxing fight versus basketball player Shaquille O’Neal as an episode of the television show Shaq Vs, an American reality television show.

7. COVID-19 prevented him from going back to the ring versus Vitor Belfort

A photo of Vitor Belfort by BMF BMF – Wikimedia commons

Vítor Vieira Belfort is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the Heavyweight and Middleweight divisions.

On June 17, 2021, it was announced that De La Hoya would return to the ring in an exhibition bout against Vitor Belfort on September 11, 2021, under the Triller (app) Fight Club banner.

On July 21, it was announced that the match would not be an exhibition but would be an official boxing match sanctioned by the California State Athletic Commission. On September 3, De La Hoya announced that he would not be fighting Belfort due to contracting COVID-19.

8. There was a 2020 presidential candidacy speculation about De La Hoya

In September 2018, De La Hoya was reported to be “seriously considering a run for president of the United States. In an interview, he informed TMZ that he was assembling an exploratory team to assess the viability of a candidacy. He stated that if the numbers looked right, he would go for it.

9. His ex-wife filed a lawsuit against him

The relationship abruptly ended in September 2000 when Moakler, who was at home watching the Latin Grammy Awards on television, saw De La Hoya escorting another woman to the show.

In December 2000, Moakler filed a $62.5 million palimony suit against her ex-fiancé, claiming he was an alcoholic, abusive to her and their daughter, and that he used them as props to promote his public image.

The case was settled out of court in 2001 for an undisclosed amount. After the time of De La Hoya’s split from Moakler, he had little contact with his daughter, although he continued to provide financial support.

10. He is the one who authorized a children’s picture book titled Super Oscar

In 2006, De La Hoya authorized a children’s picture book titled Super Oscar, published by Simon & Schuster and released in his name. The book was written by Mark Shulman and illustrated by illustrator Lisa Kopelke.

The book tells the story of young Oscar as a daydreamer, who uses his great physical ability to prepare an elaborate picnic for his entire neighbourhood in just fifteen minutes.

The book is witten in English and Spanish. It received unanimously positive reviews from the publishing review journals and was selected as the Best Bilingual Children’s Picture Book at the 2007 Latino Book Awards.