Ares Mixed Martial Arts: UFC, Strikeforce news & articles

November 22, 2009 by James Gideon

“The Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya made his professional boxing debut seventeen years ago this week. Before De La Hoya ever stepped into a professional boxing ring, he was already a household name. When De La Hoya was 15-years-old, he won the national Junior Olympic 119-lb title. Over the next few years, De La Hoya would win several amateur championships. In 1991, De La Hoya was named Boxer of the Year by USA Boxing. At the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, De La Hoya defeated German Marco Rudolph to win the gold medal and become the only U.S. boxer to take home a medal from Barcelona. De La Hoya then made his professional debut against Lamar Williams in Inglewood, California on November 23, 1992. De La Hoya won the fight by first round knockout. De La Hoya would go on to become America’s “Golden Boy,” and he became the highest grossing fighter in the history of the business. De La Hoya now promotes boxing matches through his company Golden Boy Promotions, and he has dabbled in promoting mixed martial arts events. Before becoming the most successful businessman in the history of boxing, De La Hoya made his professional debut seventeen years ago this week.