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Oscar De La Hoya Names ‘The Greatest of All Time’ Boxer Who Levels Muhammad Ali, and It’s Not Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao

Published 10/21/2023, 7:46 AM EDT

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In a sport such as boxing, where legends are made almost every day, debates about who truly is “The Greatest of All Time” remain a topic of discussion. Oscar De La Hoya, a legend of his time, has recently turned heads in the boxing world by anointing a new champion who stands tall next to the insurmountable Muhammad Ali. What’s more, the new champion is not Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao.

But the question is, who is better than Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao? On one hand, Floyd went down in history as the most successful boxer. On the other, Pacquiao is the only boxer ever to win twelve major world titles in eight different weight divisions. During an interview with ES News, Oscar De La Hoya announced his pick for “The Greatest of All Time,” towering over Floyd and Pacquiao. Wondering who that is?

Oscar De La Hoya lists the best boxers in history

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During the interview, the reporter questioned ‘Golden Boy’ about his T-shirt, which featured a legendary boxer. In response, De La Hoya confidently announced, “Sugar Ray Robinson is the greatest of all time!” He then went on to explain why he thinks Sugar Ray Robinson is the greatest of all time. De La Hoya highlighted, “Look at…all the weight divisions, hardest puncher, best footwork.” 

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‘Golden Boy’ also underscored Robinson’s accomplishments while justifying his choice. “I mean, he would fight what multiple times a month, took on the very best, took on the toughest challenges,” De La Hoya told ES News. He then proceeded to assert that Robinson was the best in the history of boxing, next to Muhammad Ali. “Sugar Ray Robinson, he is literally the goat in boxing. I would say, next to Muhammad Ali!” said Oscar. 

Golden Boy names the third and fourth greatest boxers

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After naming Robinson and Muhammad Ali as the greatest boxers in the history of boxing, he went on to name other illustrious personalities from the past. He first began by talking about Rocky Marciano and Willie Pep, who he claimed was a masterful boxer. “I do have to put Marciano Willie Pep, who was a masterful boxer in the history of the sport,” De La Hoya told ES News.

Later in the interview, he named Julio César Chávez, claiming he can not be left out of the conversation. “I do have to talk about Chavez, obviously. I can’t leave Chavez out,” said De La Hoya. However, De La Hoya wasn’t done with the list of the greatest in boxing history. He proceeded to bring in Sugar Ray Leonard, naming him the best welterweight in the world. “Sugar Ray Leonard is one of the best, if not the best, Welterweights out there in the world,” said De La Hoya.

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Oscars De La Hoya, a legend in his own regard, skipped the modern boxing sensations like Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. However, the burning question is — do you agree with De La Hoya’s list? Who do you think is the greatest boxer in the history of the sport?

Watch This Story: The Oscar De La Hoya Eddie Hearn Beef So Far

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Written by:

Sudeep Sinha

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Sudeep Sinha is a Boxing Writer at EssentiallySports. With a rich background as a content writer for various companies, Sudeep's journey as a sports writer has been driven by his unwavering fascination with boxing and its multifaceted appeal. For Sudeep, boxing represents the perfect blend of athleticism, strategy, and a profound connection to the human spirit.
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