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

He'll be remembered as an elite fighter who fought everyone, never dodged anyone IIRC.

But he'll also be remembered for either losing or getting questionable decisions in nearly all his big fights - Whitaker, Trinidad, Mosley, Hopkins, Quartey, Pac, Mayweather, Sturm - Lost them all or got decisions that many consider lucky.

Best win on his resume is Vargas.

 

And here I am thinking that Hopkins stopped him?

+ you can argue that he lost just as many controversial decisions as he won...unless none of those fights were competitive enough to have upset people on both sides of the decisions?

 

He was really good but I think he sort of stagnated as a fighter around the late 90s because he kept changing trainers and he only developed his right hand already last his peak and at 154. I hold it against him that the only time he really unified he never fought the #1 or #2 guy in the division (Wright at 154). That leads me to believe what Arum said when he said “he wasn’t a great fighter and there’s guys we knew would beat him” though it must be said he took on tough challenges.

I hear people thinking he got robbed by Tito but not mentioning the controversy of the Whitaker and Quartey fights. I personally had Tito a draw in rounds and him a handy loser vs. Whitaker and a close loser vs. Quartey. Mosley in the re-match was close but Mosley at that point hadn’t won a fight in a while and was looking poor. The fact Oscar couldn’t get a clear cut win shows he’s a guy that had a problem closing the show/winning a big one clear.

I think he’s a great fighter but not an all-time great and his “legend” status would be more on his popularity and impact on the sport because I don’t think he would be rated among the top 12/15 fighters of his time.

 

Good post but I would hard pressed to find 12-15 I would rate higher than him during his years...but then again there are overlapping eras going on around him as well....greats at the tail end and on thier way up that could muddy the water

 

With Oscar I compare him to Benitez in that. Wilfred fought best at 154.. at 160 he just didn't have what he had only 6 pounds lower.. Oscar fought best at 140. He wanted the fight at 147, but he lost power and the edge he had at that weight.

 

I think had Oscar stayed at 140 he could have been seen as one of the greatest ever. His left hook just had more pop at that weight and he was so effective. He wanted the big fight. I give him credit. The guy really looked for the big fights and it hurt his career.

 

History will be kind to Oscar but the OP was awfully being charitable.