THE GOLDEN BOY PERSONAL
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 24 Sep 2008
Oscar De La Hoya, the most influential person in the boxing world today, hails from a family of boxers. His grandfather Vicente, father Joel Sr., and brother Joel Jr. were all boxers, but it was Oscar?s career which soared high to world superstardom.
De la Hoya was born on February 4, 1973, in Los Angeles, California. His parents migrated to the United States from Mexico before he was born. Oscar took up boxing seriously at the tender age of six. His idol was Olympic gold medalist Sugar Ray Leonard, who became a boxing icon after the 1976 Summer Olympics before turning professional and became the first boxer to win titles in five divisions, from welterweight to light heavyweight. Later on, Oscar followed his idol by winning titles in five weight categories at a younger age of 28.
De La Hoya was awarded as The Ring Magazine's "Fighter of the Year" in 1995 and was The Ring Magazine's number one Pound for Pound fighter in the world in 1997. He has defeated seventeen former world champions including Jimmy Bredahl, Jorge Paez, John-John Molina, Rafael Ruelas, Genaro Hernandez, Jesse James Leija, Julio Cesar Chavez, Miguel Angel Gonzalez, Pernell Whitaker, Hector Camacho, Arturo Gatti, Ike "Bazooka" Quartey, Javier Castillejo, Luis Ramon Campas, Fernando Vargas, Felix Sturm, and Ricardo Mayorga.
The Golden Boy has since then won ten world titles in six different weight classes. He has also earned more money than any other boxer in the history of the sport. His amateur career record includes 223 wins, 163 by way of knockout, with only 5 losses. He won the United States' only boxing gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, by knocking down his opponent Marco Rudolph of Germany; a win which he dedicated to his deceased mother who dreamed of him someday winning the Olympic gold. Thus he used the nickname ?Golden Boy? when he turned professional.
His amateur achievement include winning as 1989 Gold Medalist National Golden Gloves, 1990 Gold Medalist US National Championships, 1990 Gold Medalist Goodwill Games, 1991 Gold Medalist US National Championships, 1991 Gold Medalist US Olympic Festival, 1992 Gold Medalist World Championships Challenge, and his greatest amateur triumph as 1992 Gold Medalist Barcelona Olympic Games.
He has a professional record of 39 wins and 5 losses, 30 victories by KO. His five losses were dealt by Felix Trinidad, Shane Mosley (twice), Bernard Hopkins, and Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
De la Hoya garnered such world titles in the WBO junior lightweight, WBO lightweight, IBF lightweight, WBC junior welterweight, WBC welterweight, IBA welterweight, WBC junior middleweight, WBA junior middleweight, IBA junior middleweight, and WBO middleweight divisions.
De La Hoya is also the founder of the very popular Golden Boy Promotions, a combat sport promotional firm. He is the first American of Hispanic descent to own a nationwide and now internationally known promotional firm. He is one of only a few of boxers in history who have taken on promotional ventures while still active as a fighter.
His splendid looks and irrefutable talent made De La Hoya a big hit with fans and the media in his entire career. Outside the ring, he gained respect from many for his charity and community services and establishing a non-profit foundation and a youth boxing center in his old East Los Angeles neighborhood.
In 2000, De La Hoya released his first album, in both English and Spanish, entitled Oscar, and the album became number one in Latin dance charts and a single 'Ven a Mi,' was nominated for a Grammy Award. He married Puerto Rican singer Millie Corretjer in 2001.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
2026 NBA Finals: Knicks Rally from 29 Points Down to Steal Game 4 from Spurs 107-106
By Reylan Loberternos, Thu, 11 Jun 2026VARGAS: BEATING BAM MAKES ME ‘THE MAN’
Thu, 11 Jun 2026Pound-for-Pound Puerto Rican Champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo Hosts Media Workout Ahead of June 20 Defense Against Philippines’ Joey Canoy
Thu, 11 Jun 2026Sanman 101 boxing event to push through in General Santos
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 11 Jun 2026Panamanian female champ star Nataly Delgado ready to beat Artiga for WBA title in Orlando, Florida
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Thu, 11 Jun 2026Pedro Veitia Eager to Separate Himself in Battle of Unbeaten Middleweight Prospects June 13 in Orlando
Thu, 11 Jun 2026Raga, Esquillo, Ortega, Navarrete, Santos, Ripay to compete in Japan 10-Ball Open
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 11 Jun 2026Chess tournament goes to Dasmarinas Cavite
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 11 Jun 2026Roach Jr. vs. Zepeda Press Conference Quotes
Wed, 10 Jun 2026Steven Butler to face Edgar Berlanga on July 26 at the Infosys Theater of the Madison Square Garden in New York
Wed, 10 Jun 2026Nimal Farmer scores signature win over Michael Anderson at Prudential Center
Wed, 10 Jun 2026H2O EAGER TO MAKE STATEMENT AGAINST FORMER WORLD CHAMPION JOJO DIAZ IN HOMETOWN HEADLINER JUNE 19
Wed, 10 Jun 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 8 JUNE 2026: Ramirez SD Lerrone; Baumstarh SD Bustillos; Vazquez, Mindoro Win in Texas; Yabuki, Moloney, Casimero and Angeletti Win in Japan
By Eric Armit, Tue, 09 Jun 20262026 NBA Finals: Spurs Take Game 3, Beat Knicks in New York 115-111
By Reylan Loberternos, Tue, 09 Jun 2026Casimero still rocking
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 09 Jun 2026