WATCH: The Evolution and Devolution of Oscar De La Hoya Over the Years

Oscar De La Hoya has seen the pinnacle of success as a boxer and a promoter. The athlete turned businessman achieved championships in multiple divisions as an active pugilist, amassing an ‘All-time Great’ status on his rise to success. However, it has been over a decade since ‘The Golden Boy’ last fought. He will end that hiatus when he returns to the ring against Vitor Belfort.

The hiatus of over a decade has surely taken a lot from the former world champion, but that hasn’t changed his love for boxing. His recent training clips show that he is as eager to box as he was when he competed near the top of the sport.

In a career of 16 years, De La Hoya bagged 11 world titles and a successful record of 39-6. He was one of the biggest faces in the sport and was always touted as a PPV star. Unfortunately, the American boxer was never free of controversies. Even today, De La Hoya grabs sheer attention from the media for his bizarre statements. That said, he saw a long wave of uphill and downhill moments in his career. Here’s a look at it.

Oscar De La Hoya – The Golden Boy of boxing

Speaking of evolution, De La Hoya was one of the finest youngsters to showcase sheer improvement with every fight. After debuting in 1992, De La Hoya remained unbeaten for the next seven years before suffering his maiden loss to Felix Trinidad in 1999. However, he took that loss on his chin and continued his upward trajectory.

De La Hoya was known for his sharp jabs and intense combinations. He could charge up his opponents with sheer power, finely tuned with aggression. That’s what turned him into a terrorizing puncher. Meanwhile, he also had technical skills that helped him hold his own, even in defeat.

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As he is back to training at this age, we can see him have a similar sense of footwork and range. Furthermore, a disciplined Oscar De La Hoya showcased sheer prowess on pads. He even flexed the freestyle punching that still classifies him as a relevant fighter. But that’s a debate that might need several more factors to strengthen.

From footwork and power, to head movement and speed, and every other necessary attribute of becoming a world champion, De La Hoya had it all in his prime. It would interest several people to see whether those attributes are still as good.

The Personal life of Golden Boy

Well, talking about devolution, the boxer inside Oscar De La Hoya was always a top-tier persona. But his personal life saw him suffer some controversies. However, his fighting mentality, a loving family, and a positive mind frame helped him turn out to be a successful boxer and promoter.

Today, The Golden Boy Promotions is one of the biggest in the business. Hence, De La Hoya has bounced back stronger from his dark days and is now back to the fighting flow. That said, he might look for a way to enter the active pro boxing circuit.

In a chat with Mike Tyson, he said that he would try to call out Floyd Mayweather or Canelo Alvarez. That depends on how his fight against Belfort plays out.

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