Oscar De La Hoya remains one of the most decorated fighters in boxing history.
Best known as ‘The Golden Boy’, De La Hoya’s career spanned just over 15-years, where he captured 11 world championships across six weight divisions.
He defeated a number of highly ranked fighters throughout his tenure, including the likes of Pernell Whitaker, Julio Cesar Chavez and Ike Quartey to name just a few.
His career came to an end back in 2008 when he was knocked out by Manny Pacquiao in the eighth round of 45th and final defeat of his career, although his legacy and influence lives on in the present day.
In a round of ‘Best I Faced’ with The Ring Magazine, De La Hoya made no mistake in naming Ike Quartey as the one fighter who hit him harder than the rest, claiming he was ‘rattled’ by the Ghanian’s punches.
“His punches were like bricks; he hit me and it would sting me. Every punch he would hit me with, it would rattle me.”
‘The Golden Boy’ defeated Quartey via split decision in at the Thomas & Mack Center in February 1999 to successfully defend his WBC world welterweight title. ‘Bazooka’ put on an impressive display against De La Hoya, although it just wasn’t enough to snatch the WBC crown on the night.
Quartey went on to challenge for a world title just once more before he retired, falling short in a challenge of Fernando Vargas’ IBF light middleweight title when they faced each other just one year after his defeat to De La Hoya.
