With fights against the likes of of Felix Trinidad, Ike Quartey, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Bernard Hopkins, Oscar De La Hoya is faced with tough choices when rating their attributes.
‘The Golden Boy’ burst onto the scene full of promise and considerable backing after winning Gold at the 1992 Olympics, then going unbeaten in the paid ranks for 31 fights whilst cruising through divisions from 135lbs to 147.
It comes as no surprise that it was at welterweight where he had his first taste of ‘stinging’ power. The fighter-turned-promoted told The Ring Magazine that it was Quartey who hit him hardest.
“His punches were like bricks; he hit me and it would sting me. Every punch he would hit me with, it would rattle me.”
De La Hoya also credited Quartey, who was undefeated at the time of their fight, with having a jab that was ‘not only powerful but very consistent.’
The Ghanian fighter had been stripped of his WBA Welterweight belt prior to the bout due to inactivity so was the challenger for De La Hoya’s WBC title. The American secured his sixth successful defence that night with a split decision win after a nip and tuck affair that saw both men down in the sixth and, crucially, Quartey down again in the twelfth.
Feeling his best night in the ring had been cruelly taken from him, Quartey’s interest in the sport – which began at a young age, he left home to live with his trainer at seven-years-old when his mother didn’t want him to box – dipped considerably.
He lost his next fight a year later, went on a string of three wins before losing his final two bouts and hanging up his well-worn gloves with a record of 37 wins, four losses and 31 knockouts.