Why is Oscar De La Hoya so important?

Oscar De La Hoya is an Olympic gold medalist and a 10-time world champion in six different weight classes, a feat no other American boxer has accomplished.

He was named The Ring magazine’s fighter of the year in 1995, and he once earned more money from pay-per-view fights than any other athlete in history.

Oscar De La Hoya is known for his philanthropic works. De La Hoya’s mother died of breast cancer in 1990, when he was 39 years old, just two years before he won gold in Barcelona.

But she recognised her son’s potential and told him before she died, “The more you make, the more you must give back.” It was something he took to heart and will never forget.

De La Hoya’s philanthropic efforts began intuitively, “literally going back door to door in East L.A. where I grew up and handing out money, or whatever we could.” Whether it was groceries or Thanksgiving turkeys.”

Oscar De La Hoya has become a successful promoter since retiring as a fighter. He manages 90 boxers as the president and founder of Golden Boy Promotions, including world middleweight champion Anthony “Canelo” Alvarez.