Today in Boxing History: Oscar De La Hoya born in California

On this day in 1973, Oscar De La Hoya was born in Montebello, California. The “Golden Boy� is a six-time world champion and the most financially successful boxer in history.

De La Hoya turned professional shortly after winning a gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics. In March of 1994, he won his first title, the WBO Super Featherweight belt, with a 10th-round stoppage of Jimmi Bredahl. Four months later, De La Hoya picked up the WBO Lightweight title with a second-round knockout of Jorge Paez.

He defended the belt six times before moving up to light welterweight to challenge reigning WBC champ and legend Julio Cesar Chavez in 1996. De La Hoya dominated the bout until it was stopped in the fourth round. He defended the welterweight belt once before moving up in weight to win the WBC Welterweight title with a decision over Pernell Whitaker in April of 1997.

De La Hoya successfully defended his welterweight title seven times before signing to fight IBF champion Felix Trinidad in September of 1999. It was one of the richest non-heavyweight title bouts in history, as both fighters were undefeated and in the prime of their careers. De La Hoya was dominant early on and seemed to be on his way to a decision win. However, he chose to play it safe and avoid Trinidad in the later rounds, and it was a strategy that cost him dearly. Trinidad was awarded a majority decision.

Two fights later, De La Hoya lost again, this time to Sugar Shane Mosley via split decision in June of 2000. He then moved up to light middleweight and won the WBC portion of that title with a decision over Javier Castillejo in June of 2001. Fifteen months later, he picked up the WBA belt with an 11th-round knockout of Fernando Vargas. De La Hoya defended the belt once more before challenging Mosley to a rematch, and losing another decision. The loss was controversial because of the fact that De La Hoya landed over 100 more punches than Mosley throughout the fight.

De La Hoya bounced back in June of 2004 by winning the WBO Middleweight title with a decision over Felix Sturm. A mega-fight with undisputed middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins followed three months later. The bout was close until Hopkins handed De La Hoya his first knockout loss with a show-stopping left hook to the body.

De La Hoya took more than a year and a half off from boxing following the loss. He returned to the ring in May of 2006 and won the WBC Light Middleweight title with a sixth-round stoppage of Ricardo Mayorga. He is scheduled to defend the belt against Floyd Mayweather, Jr., on May 5th of this year.