Will History Favour The Brave? Case of Oscar De La Hoya

I have a lot of respect for Oscar. I honestly believe if he were in his prime he would likely beat Mayweather. Against Tito, while he probably should have won that fight, it was his own stupidity that lost it for him. I can't imagine someone like Duran playing that, " I've won enough rounds to coast" game. You fight til the bell goes period.

Other than losing to SSM who in his prime, was no easy fight, I think Oscar had a great career.

Where would I rate Oscar, pretty high, but I'm not exactly sure how high. Top 50 -60 range.

 

It should be noted those corrupt judges actually scored several of the late coasting rounds for Oscar. No way he could beat Toto, the fix was in. The coasting rounds costing him the fight argument is a myth.

 

Just pointing out that Oscar win rounds 9 and 12 on two of the judges cards, so late coasting wasnt the reason he lost on the official cards, he was robbed and nothing he could do, the cards made no sense.

 

Not sure why anyone wouldn't give the guy some credit. He fought all the tough guys at or near their peak, and took the measure of most. Unlike a certain other modern-day welter who goes out of his way to avoid real challenges, Oscar sought them out. Good for him.

 

The problem with Oscar is he lost all his career-defining fights: Trinidad, Mosleyx2. Tough luck, but truly great fighter find a way to win. He is oftern compared to Ray Leonard but never on the same level because of this reason.

 

But better to have fought those fights and lost, then to have avoided those fights in the first place.

Agreed?

 

Of course, what's wrong? Oscar is in IBHOF, he's well-loved, or as OP says history favour him. I don't think there is anything wrong with public perception about Oscar.

 

Oscar def a great fighter. If he had rightfully gotten the nod against Mosely in one fight and Trinidad he would be viewed much different. Many ppl would probably pick him prime for prime over mayweather had he won those fights.

 

Yeah, he deserves to be rated ahead of Mayweather, if that's what you're asking.

Behind Whitaker though.

 

Oscar, like Pacquiao, rounded out at welterweight. Whitaker was the final exam before graduation, but I personally struggle to hand him the victory in that one. He would go on to narrowly beat Quartey and decisively defeat Tito Trinidad in his (Oscar's) absolute peak. To me, both Mosley bouts should also have been draws.

Mayweather, by contrast, reached maturity as a 130-pound fighter. These comparisons to full-fledged welterweights have never sat well with me. To little controversy, I think Floyd's career has mirrored Whitaker's to a good extent. He drew with Castillo by my reckoning, dropped a few decisions to volume punchers in the twilight years.

I have Oscar just outside of the top ten of the very rich welterweight division; Floyd undeniably top two in his 130 pounds. Both have carved histories worthy of remembrance.

 

Close decision happened in boxing, he lost those fight, don't pretend it didn't happened. Unfortunate, yes, unfair, no.
P.S: I know Mosley is a steroid cheat, but it didn't change the fact that he has stylistical advantage over Oscar.