Oscar de la Hoya Biography

Oscar de la Hoya

Born: February 4, 1973
Place of Birth: East Los Angeles, California

Major Notes:

Oscar de la Hoya captured world boxing championship titles in five different weight divisions.
He came from a relatively poor family who immigrated to United States from Mexico.
Both de la Hoya's grandfather and father had been boxers in the past.
His father lined up his son's first fight when de la Hoya was only six years old.
By the age of 16, Oscar de la Hoya had won both the National Junior Boxing and the National Golden Gloves Championships.
In 1990, he found out that his mother was dying from cancer.
She died later in the year and her death inspired de la Hoya to pursue an Olympic gold medal.
Remembering his mother, de la Hoya won his gold medal when he captured the Lightweight Boxing Championship in the 1992 Olympics.
It was at this time, Oscar de la Hoya was first referred to as the "Golden Boy", a name that stuck with him for the remainder of his career.
After winning his Olympic medal, de la Hoya entered professional boxing.
By 1994, he had captured both the WBO junior lightweight championship and, as well, the WBO lightweight title.
Over the next few years, de la Hoya continued to have boxing success and he continued to capture more boxing titles.
Some felt with his continued financial success, he got away from his Mexican-American roots.
In 2000, de la Hoya showed his singing talent by releasing a bilingual collection of love ballads.
This self-titled album was nominated for a Grammy award.
He has also set up the Oscar de la Hoya Foundation committed to the development of children, families and communities in Los Angeles.
Oscar de la Hoya is considered by many as the most proficient boxer in the history of the sport.

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Major Notes:

Oscar de la Hoya captured world boxing championship titles in five different weight divisions.

He came from a relatively poor family who immigrated to United States from Mexico.

Both de la Hoya's grandfather and father had been boxers in the past.

His father lined up his son's first fight when de la Hoya was only six years old.

By the age of 16, Oscar de la Hoya had won both the National Junior Boxing and the National Golden Gloves Championships.

In 1990, he found out that his mother was dying from cancer.

She died later in the year and her death inspired de la Hoya to pursue an Olympic gold medal.

Remembering his mother, de la Hoya won his gold medal when he captured the Lightweight Boxing Championship in the 1992 Olympics.

It was at this time, Oscar de la Hoya was first referred to as the "Golden Boy", a name that stuck with him for the remainder of his career.

After winning his Olympic medal, de la Hoya entered professional boxing.

By 1994, he had captured both the WBO junior lightweight championship and, as well, the WBO lightweight title.

Over the next few years, de la Hoya continued to have boxing success and he continued to capture more boxing titles.

Some felt with his continued financial success, he got away from his Mexican-American roots.

In 2000, de la Hoya showed his singing talent by releasing a bilingual collection of love ballads.

This self-titled album was nominated for a Grammy award.

He has also set up the Oscar de la Hoya Foundation committed to the development of children, families and communities in Los Angeles.

Oscar de la Hoya is considered by many as the most proficient boxer in the history of the sport.