Oscar De La Hoya has predicted the outcome of a fantasy showdown between two of the greatest fighters of all time – Sugar Ray Leonard and Floyd Mayweather.
By the time Leonard’s career had come to an end in 1997, he had captured world titles across five weight classes, ranging from welterweight to light-heavyweight. He racked up victories over the likes of Roberto Duran, Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns along the way, proving himself to be one of the greatest fighters to have ever graced the sport.
As for Mayweather, the Michigan native enjoyed considerable success throughout the course of his 21-year professional career, winning multiple world titles across five divisions along the way. He defeated a number of generational greats during this time, including Canelo Alvarez, Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao to name a few.
Another legendary fighter that Mayweather got the better of during his tenure is fellow countryman De La Hoya, who he defeated to become the WBC light-middleweight champion back in May of 2007.
In a round of ‘Knockout’ with The Daily Mail, De La Hoya was asked to predict the winner of an intriguing fantasy clash between Leonard and Mayweather and didn’t hesitate to pick one man.
“Sugar Ray Leonard.”
Leonard became a member of the iconic ‘Four Kings’ during the 1980s, alongside former rivals Duran, Hagler and Hearns. The legendary quarted faced each other on at least one occasion each throughout that golden era.
Perhaps the most memorable victory of Leonard’s career actually came against Duran back in 1980 when he sensationally forced the Panamanian great to quit during the eighth round of their rematch in New Orleans, successfully defending his WBC world welterweight title in the process
