Former boxer turned promoter Oscar De La Hoya helped to define an era of boxing as he competed in various divisions.
As De La Hoya is a former six-division champion, he has had an incredible career that has seen him take on the best. This even includes De La Hoya fighting Manny Pacquiao despite being advised against it.
Retiring with a professional record of 39-6, ‘Golden Boy’ only suffered defeats to some of the greatest to ever step in the ring. From De La Hoya being stopped by Bernard Hopkins, to taking Floyd Mayweather to a split decision, it took a lot to beat the American.
There are also plenty of hugely impressive wins on the resume of De La Hoya. In 1997, the fighter defended his world title against a true legend of the game.
Oscar De La Hoya dominated Hector Camacho to defend world title
De La Hoya defeated Pernell Whitaker in June 1997 to become a welterweight champion for the first time. Defending the belt for the first time two months later against David Kamau, De La Hoya’s record improved to 25-0.
For his 26th fight, and second potential title defense, De La Hoya would have his champion status challenged by Hector Camacho. In terms of impressive resumes, few are better than ‘Macho’s’.
Camacho is considered to have retired both ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran, facing and defeating each man in their final bouts.
Duran lost to the Puerto Rican in 1996 via unanimous decision. The following year, Camacho stopped Leonard with a fifth-round TKO.
Six months after defeating Leonard, in September 1997, Camacho would challenge De La Hoya for the WBC World Welterweight title. They would meet in Las Vegas, as Camacho looked to build on his then 63-3-1 record.
However, it would be a dominant display from the champion. A ferocious approach from De La Hoya would see him win almost every round on the judges’ scorecards. As well as this, he was able to send the challenger to the canvas.
The final tallies from the scoring officials were 120-105, 118-108, and 120-106.
Camacho would continue to fight until 2010, retiring with a record of 79-6-3. Among these wins also included a second victory over Duran in 2001.
- READ MORE: Oscar De La Hoya returned after 20 months to win world title following brutal stoppage loss
Oscar De La Hoya made seven defenses of his welterweight title
Making the second defense of his world title against Camacho, this would be the second of seven successful retentions.
De La Hoya would return in December 1997, as he stopped Wilfredo Rivera in the eighth round in Atlantic City.
‘Golden Boy’ wouldn’t return to the ring until June 1998, where he stopped Patrick Charpentier in Texas. Then, De La Hoya would get a second win over Julio Cesar Chavez, one of the greatest Mexican fighters of all time in September.
In 1999, De La Hoya would defeat Ike Quartey and Oba Carr in February and May respectively, before dropping his title in September.
Tasting defeat for the first time after 32 fights, De La Hoya was bested by Felix Trinidad in their welterweight unification bout.