Fighter who controversially lost to De La Hoya to return for final outing.
In a career that saw him win world titles across six weight divisions, there were few nights where Oscar De La Hoya came out looking like the lesser fighter in the ring.
He had his defeats, of course, as almost every great across history did. However, it is a night that saw him officially get the win that proves to be one of his most controversial fights.
This does not refer to his contentious decisions over Pernell Whitaker or Ike Quartey, no. Rather, it concerns a bout that took place several years after both of those contests.
The bout in question was a very significant one for De La Hoya, as it was the one that saw him make history by becoming the first six-weight world champion in all of boxing.
In June of 2004, the American took on Felix Sturm, an unbeaten German who held the WBO middleweight title. But despite being an undefeated titlist, Sturm had faced no sort of competition like De La Hoya. As such, the favourite was very clear heading in.
De La Hoya would get the win. Only, most observers didn’t think he should have. In fact, the decision was so badly received that Sturm and his promoters filed a protest with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, though nothing would come of it.
While De La Hoya went on with the rest of his career, Sturm would become a middleweight titleholder on three more occasions and also go on to hold the WBA (Regular) super-middleweight title.
He last held the latter belt over ten years ago and has remained active in an on-and-off sense since. However, Sturm will be having his very last contest next month.
Now aged 47, he will be saying his so-longs in his home country of Germany against Kosovan-born countryman Granit Stein, a limited opponent 14 years his junior.
Having amassed a record of 45-6-3 (1), Sturm should most likely exit the sport after this fight before he potentially taints his legacy. He will always have what he was in his prime.
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