Oscar De La Hoya was, at one stage, the biggest star in the sport.
‘The Golden Boy’s Olympic success saw his pro career off to a good start and he went 31 fights undefeated until being served his first loss by Felix Trinidad. The only other men to beat him in a 45 fight campaign were Shane Mosley, Bernard Hopkins, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao – the two men who would take over as faces of the sport.
In a recent interview with Club Shay Shay, De La Hoya dismissed the idea that Mayweather, known for his elite defence, couldn’t hit hard. Whilst doing so, he said that he wasn’t hurt in his final two stoppage losses.
“Oh he has power. He has power. I mean he didn’t hurt me, but he has a lot of power. I have a good chin. Pacquiao didn’t hurt me. Bernard [Hopkins] didn’t hurt me, I mean he caught me with that body shot. I have a good chin, but Floyd does have power.”
De La Hoya was stopped to the body by 39-year-old Hopkins in the ninth, lost a split decision over twelve to Mayweather and retired in his corner against ‘PacMan’ in what would be his final bout.
On the Combat Podcast, the fighter-turned-promoter said, perhaps surprisingly, that he rated the power of Mayweather and Pacquiao – who fought in 2015 with the American taking on the cards – the same.
I’d have say they were about the same … It’s funny, because I didn’t feel Pacquiao’s punch, it didn’t do anything to me, maybe it’s because Pacquiao was coming up in weight, I believe that was his first fight at welterweight so I didn’t really feel his punch. With him it was more of an accumulation, you know, but I would say about the same, they punch the same.”
As to who hit him hardest, De La Hoya has always given that honour to Ike Quartey, a man whose punches he says ‘felt like bricks.’
Whilst Hopkins is now promotional partners with De La Hoya and Mayweather does the same as well as the rounds on the exhibition circuit, Pacquiao is now considering taking that a step further to return at the age of 45 and battle for a welterweight world title.