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Fighter stopped by Bernard Hopkins and Manny Pacquiao gives shocking answer when asked who was the hardest puncher he ever faced
Oscar De La Hoya has been retired from boxing for almost two decades, but the former pound-for-pound superstar is still a big presence in the sport as the head of Golden Boy Promotions.
At the peak of his powers, De La Hoya fought some of the biggest names in boxing and he reigned as world champion in six weight classes.
Facing the likes of Floyd Mayweather , Felix Trinidad, and Fernando Vargas, De La Hoya was a major box office attraction for the bulk of his professional career as he entertained fans with his exciting style regardless of the result.
In 45 fights, De La Hoya was stopped only twice, but both came in high profile fights against elite names as he failed to solve the problems presented to him by Bernard Hopkins and Manny Pacquiao.
In 2004, Philadelphia’s Hopkins became the first man to stop De La Hoya when a well-timed body shot in round nine was enough to make De La Hoya take a full count.
Four years later, in what was De La Hoya’s final fight, the proud Californian was outclassed by Pacquaio before staying on his stool at the end of eight one-sided rounds.
Despite those setbacks, it is a fighter who De La Hoya defeated who he claims is the hardest puncher he ever faced.
“His punches were like bricks. He hit me, and it would sting me,” said De La Hoya when speaking to The Ring regarding Ike Quartey and their 1999 battle that De La Hoya won on points.
“Every punch he would hit me with, it would rattle me.”
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