Six Division and Ten-Time World Champion Oscar de la Hoya poses next to a bronze statue in his likeness at STAPLES Center Star Plaza Walk Of Fame in Los Angeles on December 1, 2008 at the statue's unveiling where De La Hoya joined NBA superstar Magic Johnson and NHL legend Wayne Gretzky as the only athletes who have received such an honor from AEG and STAPLES Center. Immediately following the unveiling, De La Hoya departed for Las Vegas, Nevada where he will fight Ring Magazine Number One Ranked Pound-For-Pound Fighter Manny Pacquiao at MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, December 6, 2008 in a bout which will be broadcast live on HBO Pay-Per-View.
PHOTO CREDIT: Gene Blevins - Hoganphotos.The statue of the iconic fighter will be permantly display at STAPLES Center Walk of Fame, along side the likenesses of NBA great Magic Johnson who famously led the Los Angeles Lakers to five NBA championships from 1979-1991 and NHL legend Wayne Gretzky, who drew an unprecendented fan base to the sport of hockey during his eight year stint with the Los Angeles Kings.
"I have been fortunate to have received many accolades throughout my career, but receiving this statue is one of the proudest moments of my life. It is humbling to be placed alongside Magic Johnson and Wayne Gretzky, two great sports legends who mean so much to Los Angeles and its sports history. I am extremely grateful to AEG and STAPLES Center for honoring me in such a way."
AEG President and CEO Tim Leiweke, who was joined by De La Hoya, Golden Boy Promotions CEO and De La Hoya business partner Richard Schaefer, made the presentation to the fighter at an outdoor ceremony, which was emceed by longtime, much-heralded Los Angeles sportscaster Jim Hill, at STAPLES Center Star Plaza, in front of a throng of media, special guests and fans .
"Oscar is the third athlete to receive a statue on the Walk of Fame but the first native Angelino to receive the honor as an acknowledgement of his stature as one of the most important and influential sports figure to the City of Los Angeles," said Leiweke. "It is his history at STAPLES Center and his direct relationship to the area that marks this occasion as a truly memorable event."
"All of us are immensely proud of Oscar's achievements and the statue very much signifies that with hard work and determination dreams can come true," said Schaefer. "this statue is her to motivate others to reach for the stars and make a difference in whatever field you are in."
The fighter, who grew up in East Los Angeles and solidifed his place in STAPLES Center history when he took on Shane Mosley in the first boxing match ever held in the arena, has been a professional fighter for 17 years and is undoubtably the biggest pay-per-view attraction in the history of the sport. The son of Mexican immigrant parents who settled in the Los Angeles area to raise him and his two siblings, De La Hoya has made it a priority to never forget the community that made it possible for him to achieve success. His most notable efforts include creating the Cecilia de la Hoya Cancer Center for Women at White Memorial Medical Center in 2000, in honor of his mother who passed away from breast cancer when De La Hoya was 17, and establishing the Oscar de la Hoya Charter School in 2003, now educating more than 500 students from grades nine to 12. His annual golf tournament and fundraising Oscar de la Hoya Foundation dinner, raises substantial monies for these and many other causes.
De La Hoya continued, "To think it all started from humble beginnings in East Los Angeles and now this statue. This is such a wonderful tribute for myself and my family but this is also for all of the people in the Los Angeles community in general and East Los Angeles in particular, who have believed in and supported me throughout my career.
De La Hoya, departed immediately following the ceremony for Las Vegas, Nevada, where he meets pound-for-pound champion Manny Pacquiao in "The Dream Match" Saturday night at the MGM Grand and live on HBO Pay-Per-View.
See you at the Fights and Thanks for your time.
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