Oscar De La Hoya says one opponent hit him harder than all the rest.
During his time in boxing, ‘The Golden Boy’ mesmerized fans on countless occasions with his formidable combinations and lightning speed.
However, while most wins came easily, there were times when he had to bite down on his gumshield. On one occasion, De La Hoya got dropped in the opening round against Narciso Romo.
And in a close-fought battle, he had to taste the power of the man known as ‘Bazooka’.
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Oscar De La Hoya says Ike Quartey is the biggest puncher he fought
On February 13, 1999, Oscar De La Hoya defended his WBC welterweight world championship against Ike Quartey.
The pair went back-and-forth in a thrilling battle, in which both men hit the canvas in the sixth round, before De La Hoya scored a second knockdown in the twelfth to win via a narrow split decision.
In an interview with The Ring Magazine in 2018, De La Hoya named Quartey as the hardest-hitting opponent he’d faced.
The six-weight world champion said: “His punches were like bricks. He hit me, and it would sting me. Every punch he would hit me with, it would rattle me.”
Oscar De La Hoya revealed the better opponent between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao
Quartey isn’t the only tough fighter De La Hoya battled it out with.
The now Hall of Famer shared the squared circle with Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
However, one of the two superstars impressed the Mexican-American more.
Interestingly, De La Hoya revealed whether Mayweather or Pacquiao was better.