Oscar De La Hoya believes Sugar Ray Robinson stands as the greatest boxer of all time. The former six-weight world champion shared his opinion in a recent interview, picking Robinson over other boxing legends like Muhammad Ali and Floyd Mayweather.
De La Hoya, known as "The Golden Boy," started his pro career in 1992 after winning Olympic gold in Barcelona. He went on to capture world titles from super-featherweight all the way up to middleweight and ended up in the Hall of Fame. His record includes wins over tough opponents like Ike Quartey, Arturo Gatti, and Julio Cesar Chavez.
Despite his success, De La Hoya faced challenges in his career, losing to fighters such as Manny Pacquiao, Bernard Hopkins, and Floyd Mayweather.
In a recent chat with ES News, De La Hoya explained why he rates Robinson so highly:
"Sugar Ray Robinson is the greatest of all time! That's basically it … all the weight divisions, hardest puncher, best footwork, he would fight multiple times a month, took on the very best, took on the toughest challenges. Sugar Ray Robinson, he's literally the GOAT."
Robinson's career backs up De La Hoya's praise. The boxing legend fought an incredible 201 professional bouts, winning world championships six times. He held the welterweight title from 1946 to 1951 and grabbed the middleweight belt six times between 1951 and 1960.
His resume includes memorable victories over tough opponents like Rocky Graziano and Jake LaMotta. Robinson kept fighting until 1965, leaving a lasting mark on the sport.
De La Hoya's choice might surprise some fans. Many people consider Muhammad Ali or Floyd Mayweather as the greatest boxers ever. Both Ali and Mayweather often claimed that title for themselves during their careers.
But for Oscar De La Hoya, Sugar Ray Robinson's achievements across weight classes, punching power, footwork, busy fight schedule, and quality of opponents make him the undisputed greatest of all time.
