Oscar De La Hoya: ATG or not?

Yeah definitely.

 

Yeah I think so too.

Faced a large variety of very good to great fighters and was never outclassed in or near his prime.

I wouldn't say he's one of the greatest, but he can sensibly squeeze into a top 100 without too many qualms.

I definitely think he was a better fighter in his prime than someone like Juan Manuel Marquez or Marco Antonio Barrera or Erik Morales. That's something I feel many won't agree with but I see Oscar as above those guys....

 

Yeeh! :x

Not exactly a ridiculous opinion, though. Oscar had a very impressive set of attributes and tools. He's probably one of the most ****-on and underrated these days, really.

 

Well in his prime he only lost to Mosley later in a defeat he realistically avenged.

The losses to Sturm and Hopkins were a bridge too far for him and despite a good showing v mayorga and Floyd his prime had passed by then.

Very good two fisted boxer who had a killer instinct, an under rated jab and great combo punching.

 

People get too hung up on arguing that he lots his biggest fights without seeing that he pretty much hung with everybody worthwhile, and appreciating the versatility needed to do that.

I mean, at least his troubles came against guys like Whitaker and Quartey and not Norwood and John.

He pretty much always obliterated the B-list guys until he got too comfortable to give a fark.

 

He is ATG, probably top 30-35 for me.

Beat all the greats. Ducked nobody. Definitely beat Trinidad and at least a draw with Whitaker (I give him the nod with Whitaker due to landing more power shots).

Lost to Pacquiao but he was a shell of his former self and an established light middleweight who was dragged down to 145lbs.

Yes, he beat prime Mosley, outlanded him by 90 punches I think.

 

While I agree w/ ATG I can't see him in the top 50 let alone 35...likely 75-100 range for me....like Leonard he is unliked by so many people, that he has more than his fair share of detractors (although leonard seems to get rated more fairly) that are blinded to his skill/accomplishments.

He gets made out to have recieved gift decisions that are held against him...while on the flip side i think he lost as many poor decisions as some claim that he recieved.

 

Agreed on every point.

 

ATG yes, although he does not match up well against the ATG fighters of the welterweight division where he was when he was established. Too bad he never stayed at 140 which was where his counter left and his power were most evident. But there was not as much money and fame for him there.

 

Primarily because they were held in higher esteem by the starry eyed public. Being IMMENSELY successful ($$$) is a good way to become hated too. The trend continues today... :blood

 

Definitely an ATG. Went through the divisions and fought everybody and anybody.

 

I agree completely. And I personally like Barrera and Marquez much more. But I rate Oscar higher/very highly.

And again.

A lot of people will violently disagree (probably most) with this but I don't think it's too bad. I've always rated him highly. I think there's a perverse pleasure in overemphasising media darlings' defeats, knocking 'em off the pedestal and all of that. I think he's easily argued inside the top fifty. But if you squeak him outside the top 100, it's still in that subjective enough territory. He's maybe one of the most "arguable anywhere" type fighters out there when you're listing up. To me, anyway.

 

Undeniable. Beautiful command of the science. Willing to fight anybody. One of my favourites.

 

Oscar had a great career, no doubt hall of famer. I just always felt with Oscar that he never quite lived up to the potential that he had. Don't get me wrong, he lived up to most of it, but I always felt that he could have been just a tad better. I not big on lists, but he is one of the top fighters of the last 20-25 years.