Oscar De La Hoya ends career with a mixed professional record

Oscar De La Hoya was a highly regarded boxer who gained immense popularity during his career, particularly noted for outshining the heavyweight champion in terms of fame. His career, which spanned sixteen years, showcased his tenacity and skill as he held multiple world championships and finished with a professional record of 39 wins and 6 losses, with 30 of those wins coming by way of knockout. Among his notable fights were significant matchups against Julio Cesar Chavez, Felix Trinidad, Bernard Hopkins, and Floyd Mayweather Jr., all of which played pivotal roles in the evolution of his boxing legacy. In his early career, De La Hoya established himself by defeating Julio Cesar Chavez in 1996 in Las Vegas, marking a significant milestone as it was a clash of Mexican against Mexican-American fighters. De La Hoya won this fight by a doctor's stoppage after four rounds, impressively cutting and breaking Chavez's nose. He would later fight Chavez again, stopping him in eight rounds two years later, solidifying his position in the boxing world. This period saw the rising star build a record of 31 wins and zero losses, leading up to a high-stakes fight against Felix Trinidad, where both fighters entered the ring undefeated. Although De La Hoya appeared to dominate the initial phases of the fight, he faltered in the final rounds, ultimately losing by decision. The fight against Bernard Hopkins in 2004 painted a somber picture for De La Hoya as Hopkins methodically dismantled him over the rounds, leading to a body shot that concluded the fight in the ninth round. This loss served as a turning point, signaling the decline of De La Hoya’s boxing prowess. Two years later, he faced Floyd Mayweather Jr. at the age of 34. Despite the fight being ruled a split decision, Mayweather's control during the bout made it apparent that De La Hoya was early in his twilight years as a boxer. Critics remarked that there was little demand for a rematch following this encounter. The culmination of De La Hoya's boxing career came with his match against Manny Pacquiao in 2008. This fight was marked by significant controversy regarding weight management, as De La Hoya struggled to adapt, coming down nearly ten pounds from his previous bout. Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's coach, expressed suspicions regarding De La Hoya's weight-cutting methods leading up to the match. After enduring eight challenging rounds, De La Hoya chose to retire on his stool, indicating his decline in performance and signaling a definitive end to his storied boxing career. Reflecting on a career marked by compelling matches and fierce competition, Oscar De La Hoya remains an iconic figure, serving now as a promoter in the boxing industry.