Was De La Hoya Really That Skilled?

He won world titles in six weight classes. The only other boxer to win more is Manny Pacquiao, with eight.

He put a boxing CLINIC on Tito. I had him winning like 9-3. Tito's white shorts were covered red... I had it a draw: ODLH - 3,5,6,7,8,9 Trinidad - 1,2,4,10,11,12 ODLH surprised (and disappointed?) everyone with his movement, but clearly ran out of steam in the last three roumds. Trinidad was the aggressor the entire fight and landed the heavier blows. It would have been a better fight if he'd fought Trinidad like he did Ike Quartey and Mosely, but it was still a highly skilled boxing match.

I'm not going to lie, I'm just a few years into this, but was De La Hoya really that skilled? I'm reading those Lopez comments about Garcia, and to me, he seems much better technically than De La Hoya (yes, I know about the jab) who looked very sloppy at times with square stances and wild ineffective flurries. I feel like Garcia is so much more polished, educated, efficient, and has better mechanics. Is this nostalgia, or is there some Oscar magic in there I'm missing? - -Yup, U that Dum!

Oscar had a lot of skill. Very good jab, great combinations, could do work inside and out, could go backwards and pressure. He wasn't perfect or anything but he had lots of skills.

Yeah he's the type of fighter that's always gonna fail the eye test when percieved by people who boxed or know boxing. However the eye test doesn't correlate with actual in ring accomplishments a 100% of the time, but more often than not nonetheless. And he definitley failed my eye test a number of times. Let's not jump into conclusions though and wait until we see him fight at a world class level. There's too much solid evidence from the past that people who lack head movement and can't use a proper guard always get caught eventually. He's asking for it. Yeah he's clearly got talent but guys who drop their hands like him have only succeeded due to their highly reflexive head movement. He's got years of experience on me but at least I've hardwired the reflex of throwing a hook and putting my opposite glove right to my chin. You don't do that someone will catch you eventually and most likely KO you.

Yes he was a gold medalist and a very good pro fighter. Could have been even greater if he didn't fall into drug and alcohol abuse.

Considering I'm yet to see Ryan cover his chin when throwing hooks, imma wager he gets his clock cleaned soon enough. Yeah he's the type of fighter that's always gonna fail the eye test when percieved by people who boxed or know boxing. However the eye test doesn't correlate with actual in ring accomplishments a 100% of the time, but more often than not nonetheless. And he definitley failed my eye test a number of times. Let's not jump into conclusions though and wait until we see him fight at a world class level.

Yes he's very skilled specially at 147 where he's a beast but he has a very hard time against an opponent with faster hands and great footwork.(pac) If dela hoya isn't really good he couldn't beat floyd.

That's the part that concerns me about him. He leaves that chin in the air just asking for trouble. Also doesn't move his head, change levels and is pretty damn stiff. Yeah, I've never seen someone with such a blatant disregard for the fundamentals be able to succeed when they're stiff and predictable. If you're going to be one note like him, you need solid fundamentals.

Gold medalist and ATG. I favor Linares heavily. Garcías closer to being a hype job than he is an ATG.

Yea Oscar was very skilled an had some real "DOG" in him

OLDH made himself into a legacy, a legacy of corruption in boxing.

Considering I'm yet to see Ryan cover his chin when throwing hooks, imma wager he gets his clock cleaned soon enough. That's the part that concerns me about him. He leaves that chin in the air just asking for trouble. Also doesn't move his head, change levels and is pretty damn stiff.

Olympic gold medalist, tremendous talent and skills, 10 time world champion, was never a slugger or a face first brawler. Hung in there, skillwise, with the best of them like Whitaker, Hopkins, Mosley and Mayweather. Totally outclasse Trinidad imo. Never outclassed except by Pacquiao because he was nothing but a corpse that night. No non skilled fighters accomplish any of that. Ryan still has a very long way to go to be put in the same sentence. We still have to see him at the top level before we make any judgments about him. Considering I'm yet to see Ryan cover his chin when throwing hooks, imma wager he gets his clock cleaned soon enough.

He was very reliant on his left hand earlier on in his career but he managed to make his right very dangerous later on. He constantly improved, his combination punching ability was fantastic and he had a great jab and left hook. He moved well but could also bang on the inside if needed. Very complete fighter, had a great chin and speed in every department too. He has one of the best resumés ever and could hang with the best. He beat legends in their prime (some controversial, granted) and won titles in six weight classes. Unprecedented levels of greatness.

You don't think Oscar was particularly skilled? Top amateur and Olympic gold medalist who was never really out of his element against any of the great fighters he faced?* *(well, except Pacquiao but he was weight drained for that one.) Not particuarly. Definitely had a style that suited the amateurs so can see why he won his gold. Obviously a talented and skilled fighter but no I wouldn’t consider him overly skilled. One handed, not overly versatile, very hard puncher with fast hands and a great chin but I don’t see a guy with great skills. Not saying Oscar wasn’t elite he obviously was. And yeah he never looked out of his depth against pretty much anyone but he also never really seperated himself from the top guys either. Well, most of the time.

Not particularly You don't think Oscar was particularly skilled? Top amateur and Olympic gold medalist who was never really out of his element against any of the great fighters he faced?* *(well, except Pacquiao but he was weight drained for that one.)

I'm not going to lie, I'm just a few years into this, but was De La Hoya really that skilled? I'm reading those Lopez comments about Garcia, and to me, he seems much better technically than De La Hoya (yes, I know about the jab) who looked very sloppy at times with square stances and wild ineffective flurries. I feel like Garcia is so much more polished, educated, efficient, and has better mechanics. Is this nostalgia, or is there some Oscar magic in there I'm missing? Bro if you think Ryan Garcia is more technically skilled than prime Oscr de la hoya than something is wrong with your eyes, get them checked brother. Ryan has Power but he is very flawed, If you put a 135 oscar against a 135 Ryan, Oscar would merk him in 3 or 4 rounds. Oscar was one of the sharpest boxer punchers, dude was crispy, had his hands up, had a whip counter left hook, good stiff jab, he was on his toes, the Golden boy was a top amateur and Olympic gold medalist as well.

Anyone who says ODLH wasn’t skilled is a complete moron.

This forum keeps on getting funnier by the day. Is Oscar skilled he asked