Olympic Gold Medalist and Six-Division World Champion OSCAR DE LA HOYA and Former World Champion, STEVE FORBES, "HOMECOMING," set for Saturday, May 3 at The Home Depot Center in Los Angeles and televised live on HBO. The bout also marks De La Hoya's return to HBO's Championship Boxing since his last appearance in 2000.
Steve Forbes
"Homecoming" is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with AEG and The Home Depot Center, and sponsored by Cazadores Tequila, Tecate Beer, Rockstar Energy Drink, Southwest Airlines and Affliction Clothing. The event will be televised live by HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10pm ET / 7pm PT.
Oscar Returns
Oscar De La Hoya is one of the most successful prize fighters in boxing history, if the size of his prizes is the measuring stick.
As his May 3 return to boxing approaches after a self-imposed 20-month exile from the ring, De La Hoya is preparing for his 28th world title fight and to face his 22nd world champion. In those fights he has won some form of a world title in six different weight classes ranging from 130 pounds to 160 pounds, a spread of the scales even someone like the legendary Henry Armstrong would have been proud to call his own.
A superstar whose popularity transcends boxing, Oscar is considered to be one of the best fighters in the world at any weight - "Pound-for-Pound."
He is also the biggest non-heavyweight attraction and moneymaker at the gate. Oscar has defeated 17 current or former world champions, one twice.
Oscar fought WBC-IBF middleweight world champion Bernard Hopkins in a title unification bout on September 18, and after a close battle, Hopkins stopped De La Hoya in the ninth round. Oscar lost no prestige in defeat though, gaining the respect of Hopkins and the boxing community for his continued willingness to fight the best.
"Boxing is in my blood. This is the sport I love and will continue being in as long as my body and mind allow me to."
Oscar De La Hoya won the WBO middleweight world title in his last fight on June 5 with a 12-round unanimous decision against defending champion Felix Sturm of Germany.
At the post-fight press conference, Oscar said, "What can I say? It was a tough fight. I underestimated Sturm, but we trained hard and I did my job, I have now captured six titles, and now I look forward to fighting Hopkins. I am really looking forward to that. I have no excuses. Sturm came to fight and he prepared himself very well. He was a very game fighter. I had to fight hard to win this fight, like a warrior. He took me off my game plan because he is a good fighter, but we changed things up and I pulled it out."
Oscar's previous fight was a controversial decision loss against Shane Mosley - the vast majority of people who watched the fight, some 75% according to various internet polls, thought Oscar deserved to win.
Regarding that fight, Oscar said, "When I fought Mosley the first time around, I felt like I lost, that he got me that night. With this fight, I just don't feel that way. I don't want to blame anyone or point fingers, but that will be a mystery to me for the rest of my life. I put it in its proper place. I'm moving forward. After talking with my family and my wife, I feel wonderful. I feel like the champ. My body and my mind feel great. I feel fresh. I feel at ease."
"I will continue on in the sport, the sport that made me who I am today. Boxing is in my blood. This is the sport I love and will continue being in as long as my body and mind allow me to."
Oscar has been successful at the highest levels of competition, and has beaten current or former world champions Felix Sturm, Fernando Vargas, Pernell Whitaker, Arturo Gatti, Ike Quartey, Julio Cesar Chavez twice, Hector Camacho , Miguel Angel Gonzalez, James Leija, Genaro Hernandez, Rafael Ruelas, John John Molina, Jorge Paez, Javier Francisco, Castillejo, Yory Boy Campas, Jimmi Bredahl and Troy Dorsey.
In December, 2001, Oscar formed his own boxing promotion company, Golden Boy Promotions...
2007, 2008 All photos by "El Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Studios, for Bloodline Boxing Communications and Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience all rights reserved
