Initial Entry Into The Sport

Oscar De La Hoya is an inspiration to all boxing fans and competitors. Oscar’s entry into the sport began as a little boy running home crying. The hands that would one day strike fear in the hearts of his competitors, wiped away tears of shame after being beaten by a bully’s punches. De La Hoya’s father, a former professional boxer from Durango, Mexico, had him join a local boxing gym.

Progess

Oscar’s immediately established himself as a great young fighter. He dominated amateur boxing ranks winning over 200 fights. De La Hoya became the best fighter in his class winning the gold medal at the Goodwill Games. Oscar then focused his training on the 1992 Olympics sincerely believing that he could win gold.

Elite Level Success

Oscar’s big moment came in August 1992 at the Barcelona Olympic games. To win the gold in amateur boxing you must defeat five different opponents in 9 days. Oscar had relatively easy wins in his 3 bouts until in his fourth bout when he struggled against his opponents awkward bull- rushing style.

However Oscar would not be denied and emerged with a tight one-point victory. De La Hoya was now in the gold medal bout. His final hurdle would come against Germanys Marc Rudolph, the fighter who had defeated Oscar one year earlier at the world championships in Australia. That had been Oscar’s first loss in four years so he was determined for revenge.

De La Hoya dominated the first from the beginning to end. In the final round he used his powerful left hook to knock down Rudolph. Oscar had accomplished his ultimate goal, fulfilled a promise to his mother who had died of cancer 4 months earlier and become an Olympic gold medalist. He would now attempt to fulfil his destiny by taking his immense talent on to the professional ranks.

Elite Level As Pro

Oscar is now 32 years of age and has been professional boxer for 12 years.

He has won 6 world titles ranging from 59kgs up to 73 kgs.

He has defeated 14 world champions, earned many millions of dollars and became a superstar throughout the world. He has lost 4 fights in all to great fighters in close bouts and he plans on fighting just 2 more times before retiring.