Oscar De La Hoya (Greatest Modern Era?)

Double-barrel,

 

You make some excellent points. I realize that Oscar's record against truly elite competition will negatively affect his legacy. Even so, I truly believe he was robbed against Trinidad and twice against Mosley, particularly in the rematch. If he gets those decisions, maybe history looks at him differently.

 

I also love the courage he showed against the likes of Hopkins and Mayweather. While I agree that he lost the Mayweather fight, just the fact that he left Mayweather bloodied and beaten is more than any other opponent has been able to accomplish.

 

Yes, he was sluggish against Sturm and Forbes, but when the bright lights were really on, Oscar rarely failed to deliver a great fight. Thanks for your input and good luck.  

The big payday's are now within reach for the smaller guys and that gives young fighters coming up big incentives to take it pro.

He was beating BHop on the cards via SD; losing to SSM aren't bad losses, very close, plus the rematch is tainted because of SSM doing EPO. I remember one of the fights was real close and many think Dlh did it, I can't remember which one it was though...maybe part 2?

Dlh beat Tito end of story. But the gods gave him the Quartey win...Ike had that shit.

So who's left? Losing to PBF?

Oscar was visibly shot in the Pacquiao fight. I saw it when he fought Forbes, but gave him the benefit of the doubt and called it ring rust cuz he had a 12 month layoff. Before Pac went down I told myself if he looks like ass, he's shot...if he looks aight, then it in fact was rust.

Sturm, in my opinion, was a hiccup for Oscar. I had Dlh losing, but whatever.

The man has done a lot. Not the "greatest" champion, but he deserves his due.

He's earned his due. De La Hoya has defeated 17 world champions and has won 10 world titles in six different weight classes. He has also generated more money than any other boxer in the history of the sport.

I'm not sure of this fact, but I remember him being signed to a million dollar bonus before his first match, mainly due to his amateur career that included 223 wins, 163 by knockout, with only 6 losses. He won the United States' only boxing gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics. His ring championships, intelligence, looks and charisma helped him rebuild the sport of boxing.

So there is no argument that he in one of the most influential players in the game all time.

 

Did a lot for the sport of boxing, but not to be even mentioned as one of the Pound for Pound greatest ever. Lost a lot of his big fights, and the ones he did win are against competition who proved to not be as good as people believed they were or on their downfall. (Vargas - overrated) (Pernell - I think he lost that fight anyway) (Chavez - older then dirt) (Gatti - overrated club fighter) He did beat a very good Ike Quartey, but even that was a close close fight. His fights against Shane were close, but he lost and you gotta remember he was much much bigger then Shane and still let the smaller man beat him. Just a good solid fighter but still an Icon for the sport.

Chavez the most respected athlete all time down here