Many retired boxers like to believe that they fought during the toughest era.
Oscar De La Hoya is one of them. The American boxer competed from 1992 to 2008 and in a decorated career he picked up 11 world titles in six different weight divisions including being the lineal champion in three separate divisions.
His nickname was ‘The Golden Boy’ which is now also the name of his promotional company and stems from the fact he won a gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in the lightweight division.
De La Hoya fought plenty of marquee names such as Manny Pacquiao, Julio Cesar Chavez, Pernell Whitaker and Floyd Mayweather and all that means he knows how to spot a talent in the modern-day game.
Speaking to FightHype he claimed that Vergil Ortiz, who he has long been a fan of, is a generational talent who would have done well in any decade.
“If he fought in my era, Vergil Ortiz is the only fighter that I will say would do extremely well in the 80s, the 90s and the 70s.”
154lbs contender Ortiz has knocked out all 21 of his opponents so far despite having a stop-start career due to illness.
He was named 2019 The Ring magazine Prospect of the Year and next time out he takes on Serhii Bohachuk but has also spoken of his desire to take on WBA champion Israel Madrimov, who instead will be defending his title against two-weight undisputed great Terence Crawford in his first fight in the division.
