De La Hoya/Mosley - Who was more skilled?

they were both about as equal as you could get... one simply was backed with a gold medal and followed from his pro debut while the other had to weed through over 20 fights until he was noticed
one of those things....

 

Oscar

 

As stiff and rigid as could be, De La Hoya had a better grasp of the fundamentals (offensively, defensively, and on his feet) and had better technique IMO. As for your side question, I don't think so. Mosley is too competitive, and unfortunately, in need of money at this point. He'd still be going.

 

Shane. Not by much. He did beat Oscar twice as well

 

No he didn't mate. Officially he did but a.) He was juiced and admitted it and b.) The consensus was that he was outpointed.

Oscar was better technically, had more versatility and therefore his skills were better. Shane was more athletically gifted and had better hand speed.

 

Mosley was more physically gifted than Oscar. You just can't be taught the kind of sick handspeed and combination punching Shane in his prime possessed.

To his credit, Mosley was also a very good body puncher in his earlier days, and this was an area that he notably outstripped Oscar in. DLH, from my memory, only really committed to a consistent body attack once in his entire career, against Derrell Coley.

De La Hoya, however, was far more skilled defensively, utilized greater lateral movement, and had more variety in his offense. In particular, his jab and the combinations he could throw working off his jab were superior. He also showcased a number of different gameplans and fighting styles in his career. He was a more versatile, skilled fighter, and he had to be because, aside from punching power and chin, Mosley had him beat in almost every physical attribute.

Mosley, to me at least, was a speedy brawler more than a boxer. If he'd won the gold medal, my guess is he'd still be fighting, because the gold medal doesn't preclude him from marrying Jin and getting absolutely destroyed in court.

 

Oscar was easily more skilled imo.

 

DLH was more of a boxer with a big punch. Mosley was a puncher who occasionally boxed. Mosley though, as others have said, had more athletic ability. Lightning fast. That says alot as DLH was very fast himself, just not Mosley fast.

 

As far as skills went, Oscar.
As far as accomplishments, Oscar again.
As far as athleticism, Shane.
As far as unatural ability, Shane again. (PEDs)

 

Prime for Prime, I'd say about even; if you look at the length of their whole careers, I think DLH edges it. Slightly more versatile, and his fundamentals were a little better. Both are underrated in this department I feel, particularly Shane. It bugs me out when people say he fought like a fast Mexican.