Oscar De La Hoya, the face of boxing for his generation and a dominating force in the ring who now promotes the sport, announced Tuesday at a downtown Los Angeles news conference that he is retiring as an active fighter.
The charismatic “Golden Boy,” 36, ends his career with 10 world titles in six weight classes, with the broadest fan base of any fighter in the United States and as one of the two biggest money makers ever in the sport with Mike Tyson.
He also transcended boxing, becoming one of the most recognizable figures in popular culture. He is particularly popular among Mexican-Americans, having grown up in a predominately Latino neighborhood in East Los Angeles.
His movie-star looks and charming personality have made him a favorite of women, who swoon when he makes public appearances and have been drawn to boxing in unprecedented numbers.
De La Hoya entered the public consciousness when he won the U.S.’ only gold medal at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. He dedicated the medal to his late mother, a story that touched the hearts of millions and helped jump start his professional career.
As a pro, guided by promoter Bob Arum, he had a Hall of Fame career but might not have lived up to lofty expectations. He reportedly beat 17 former or current world champions but lost many of his biggest fights.
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