Impressive return for Oscar De La Hoya

De La Hoya hires Floyd Mayweather, Sr as his new trainer.

De La Hoya loses to Sugar Shane Mosely by decision.

Oscar De La Hoya's bout-by-bout career boxing record.

Impressive return for Oscar De La Hoya - TKOs Gatti in five.

March 25, 2001 -- Oscar De La Hoya made a successful return to boxing last night as he TKOed a valiant Arturo Gatti in five rounds at the MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas.

De La Hoya, who hasn't fought in 9 months, showed a new style of boxing which was taught to him by new trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. He used more of his jab, followed it with straight rights and heavy punches to body when there was an opening -- the results: A bruised and bloody Arturo Gatti.

Oscar De La Hoya put down Gatti at the :21 second mark of the first round with a devastating left hook to the jaw of Gatti. Gatti manages to get up before the ten count, but has a large cut under his right eye which begins bleeding. Gatti survives the round, but looked battered.

The former lightweight and welterweight champion, De La Hoya continued the assault by using his jab and going more to the body of Gatti. Even though, De La Hoya received solid shots by Gatti, nothing landed flush and De La Hoya withstood all that Gatti had to give. By the fifth round, De La Hoya was clearly dominating the fight and Gatti's corner through in the towel to stop the fight at the 1:16 mark.

After the fight, De La Hoya said he needed to work on some things, "I'm not even close to becoming as good as I can become,'' De La Hoya said. "This is just the beginning, baby.''

Gatti said he didn't expect De La Hoya's hands to be as fast as they were. De La Hoya hit Gatti with a variety of punches to the head and body, which broke down Gatti.

"I fought my heart out, but that's all you can do," said Gatti, 146, a former IBF junior lightweight champion who was taken to Valley Hospital for stitches.

A Compu Box punch analysis credited De La Hoya with landing 195 of 313 punches. Gatti threw 308 punches, but landed only 87.

De La Hoya, 28, hopes to fight WBC super welterweight champion (154 pounds) Javier Castillejo of Spain on June 9th, then avenge his losses against Felix Trinidad or Shane Mosely.

Back to Latino Legends in Sports