De La Hoya created Golden Boy Promotions, a combat sports marketing organization that also has a 25% ownership in the Houston Dynamo, in 2002. He is the first American of Mexican heritage to run a major boxing promotional agency and one of the few active boxers to take on promotional duties.
He made his professional boxing debut on January 19, 2001, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, where he defeated Jorge Paez by technical knockout in the second round. This would be the only fight that De La Hoya would have as a pro boxer, as he ended up with a record of 1-1-0.
In February 2002, De La Hoya founded Golden Boy Promotions with former world champion boxer Oscar De La Hoya. The company's first major event was held in March, when it brought together several top fighters from different disciplines for a "Fight Night Champions" tournament. The finale of this event took place at the Thomas & Mack Center, where De La Hoya's fighter Miguel Angel Gonzalez won the belt of super lightweight champion. This was the first time that a boxer had become champion after participating in a tournament. Since then, Golden Boy has held multiple events featuring various fighters from different disciplines, most recently in June 2015 at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. The company's goal is to find new champions and promote their fights so they can become world champions.
Oscar's grandparents, father, uncles, and brother were all professional boxers, so falling in love with the ring game was a natural progression. He is the first Hispanic fighter to operate a national boxing promotional company, and he has earned more money from the sport than any other boxer.
De La Hoya created Golden Boy Promotions, a combat sports marketing organization that also has a 25% ownership in the Houston Dynamo, in 2002. He is the first American of Mexican heritage to run a major boxing promotional agency and one of the few active boxers to take on promotional duties.
Golden Boy Promotions, located in Los Angeles, was founded in 2002 by Oscar De La Hoya, a 10-time world champion in six categories and the first Hispanic to run a national boxing promotional organization. Golden Boy Promotions is one of boxing's most active and recognized promoters, putting on performances in sold-out arenas all over the world. The company also manages some of the sport's top fighters, including Oscar De La Hoya himself.
Oscar De La Hoya made his professional boxing debut on January 19, 1992, at the age of 18. He went on to have a successful career, winning the WBC Lightweight Title in 1995, before losing it two years later. In 1998, he won the WBA Lightweight Title, beating former champion John Mugabiin in one of the year's most anticipated fights. He lost the title three years later, but regained it in 2001 with a win over David Diaz. Since then, he has been fighting for the WBO Championship, which he currently holds after defeating Miguel Angel Gonzalez in 2013.
De La Hoya is considered one of the best lightweights in boxing history, and his accomplishments both as a fighter and a promoter are second to none. He is the founder of Golden Boy Promotions, one of the biggest boxing promotions in the world. The company puts on shows in venues all over the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Asia.
De La Hoya was dubbed "The Golden Boy of Boxing" by the media after he represented the United States in the 1992 Summer Olympics, when he won a gold medal in the lightweight class shortly after graduating from James A. Garfield High School, and reputedly "set a sport back on its feet."
He is also known for his high-profile career as a boxer and his frequent clashes with top opponents. From 1995 to 2001, he was ranked number one by the WBA, IBO, and WBC boxing organizations. He is currently ranked number two by all three organizations.
Oscar De La Hoya has been called "the greatest light welterweight of all time" by some critics. He owns victories over such fighters as Edwin Valero, Hector Camacho, Iván Rodríguez, Harry Simon, and Michael Carbajal. His most controversial defeat was probably against Floyd Mayweather, Jr. at the end of 2003 where he was knocked out in eight rounds by a then-undefeated fighter. Since then, he has regained his status as one of the best light welters in the world by beating several notable opponents including Miguel Ángel González, Paul Williams, and Cory Spinks.
In addition to being a boxer, Oscar De La Hoya has had considerable success in other sports.
De La Hoya won the WBC light middleweight championship in his only professional bout in 2006, after sitting out 2005. This year, De La Hoya lost the WBC lightweight title. It would be his final reign as champion. After losing by TKO to Manny Pacquiao in December, "The Golden Boy" announced his retirement from professional boxing. He had been fighting at a weight of 175 pounds.
Oscar De La Hoya was born on January 4th, 1973 in San Pedro, California. He turned pro in April 1996 and held the WBC Light Middleweight Championship from November 2005 to December 2006. He has fought many top fighters including Felix Trinidad, John Ruiz, and Marco Antonio Barrera among others. De La Hoya is now working as a commentator for ESPN Sports Center and ABC's Monday Night Football.
He graduated from Henry M. Jackson High School in Santa Monica, California. In 2011, he began studying business management at Cal State Los Angeles.
For his act of charity, Oscar De La Hoya has been awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal by President Obama in October 2014. The medal is given to individuals who have performed exemplary acts of service to their country while living in or contributing to society through politics or journalism. He is the first boxer to receive this award.
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