Would Oscar de la Hoya had a more successful career?

If he would not convert to a righty stance. He is natural left handed and seems to only have that one weapon, the big left hook. If Oscar was to fight out of a more natural south-paw stance, he may have been a more two handed fighter with his power left and develop his right lead as well. I don't think it would really make a difference. Why would changing to southpaw allow him to make his right hand more powerful? Instead of having a weak straight right, he'd have a weak hook, quite the converse of what is his big weapon. I think it is more just neglecting the right hand because the hook worked so well for him. perhaps however, i'm certain he decided to fight orthodox for a good reason. maybe southpaw didnt work for him for X or Y reason.... who knows..? Oscar is a natural southpaw but when he started boxing, the guy training him started him in the orthodox stance because all the kids at the gym he went to were righty and fought orthodox and it was easier for the guy to train him. It was something along those lines, he explains it in his biography.

that would take away his 2 best weapons..his left hook and his jab..so no Exactly. Fighting in the orthodox stance was what made DLH so successful.

No. I am sure ODLH knows more about boxing than we do, and that he switched for a reason. I mean you are acting like he switched on a whim, bet, dare, or something. What you think, his daddy said "son you can't be a south-paw because, south-paws are the devil". I mean if he had that good of a game from the left side he would have worked more switching of stances during the fight into his game.

Oscar used to get hit more when he converted back to lefty.

oscar's left hook was probably better than his left cross...

Oscar i feel is a classic case of too many cooks spoiling the broth. I think he gets confused and doesn't know how to fully utilize his considerable talents for situations inside the ring that calls for a particular solution because of the different styles that was forced into him. Instead of applying the best techniques he learned from his various coaches so he becomes more formidable, he ends up not knowing what to do especially in the heat of battle. He makes so many mistakes. One moment he fights like a great, the next moment he fights like a bum. :D He's the worst I can think of to convert to southpaw at this stage because that's another major alteration to his style that would further complicate his problems. Maybe during the beginning of his career, that would've been a wise move.

No way. Oscar's left jab is a big part of what made him so great. The orthodox stance also set up that picture perfect left hook. Basically it would have taken away his two best weapons.

Most guys who fight as switch hitters do it cuz they feel havin the strong hand out front is an advantage. I don't think DLH as a southpaw would necessarily have a better career, but it gives you an interestin new perspective on all of his big fights and how they woulda looked and turned out.

i have wondered that myself.....but i can not really say for sure!

If he would not convert to a righty stance. He is natural left handed and seems to only have that one weapon, the big left hook. If Oscar was to fight out of a more natural south-paw stance, he may have been a more two handed fighter with his power left and develop his right lead as well. perhaps however, i'm certain he decided to fight orthodox for a good reason. maybe southpaw didnt work for him for X or Y reason.... who knows..?