they never met up, but i'm pretty sure that was all DeLa Hoya's decision.
Vernon was definitley a late bloomer, in part to him being avoided by top fighters, in addition to his less than thrilling manner of breaking down opponents
but at 147, Vernon was pretty imposing at 6 foot tall i believe. he did have two inexplicable losses to the crude slugger Ricardo Mayorga, but i think that was just an ultimate example of styles make fights.....like Wllipe Pepp losing 3 of 4 (all by KO) to Sandy Saddler
but Vernon completley dominated Shane Mosely 2X with his disciplined jab, a weapon that has giving Oscar trouble over the years.
Oscar on the otherhand has faced the better competition by far. those common opponents you mentioned are about the best names on Forrest's resume. Oscar on the other hand has fought HOF legends from Julio Ceaser Chavez to Bernard Hopkins, and everyone in between. Oscar definitley holds an edge in big fight experience....
problem is, outside of Ike Quartey and Fernando Vargas, Oscar has lost every time he stepped to an equally match opponent at the top of his game. Oscar produces good exchanges and decent excitement, but he has shown a consistent ability to be out boxed by top level opponents, and has also shown a weakness to world class jabs, as well as precise body shots
thats not to say Vernon doesnt have ??? around his chin....but i dont think Oscar fights the sort of reckless assaults that proved to knock Forrest off his game.
and lets not overhype that KO loss to Mayorga. it was not by any means a clean KO. i though Forrsest was in trouble, but I thought that stoppage was hella premature
in this fight, i pick a pretty entertaining but one sided fight that Forrest wins
This is a clear indication that styles do make fights. Forrest gave tough night and beat Sugar Shane twice. Now Mosley beat OScar twice too (Although i gave the first fight to Hoya). Oscar knocked out the rugged Mayorga who beat a prime Vernon Forrest twice. Its a merry go around really for this four and you gotta throw in the water the idea of a fluke victory since they did the beating twice.
The businessman type Oscar was an old shell of himself and you never know what transactions are being done under the table during those big fights. The young Dela Hoya was a fighter and seemingly unbeatable. You see the glittering golden boy always going for the win. It died when it gave birth to GBP
Vernon Forrest vs Oscar De La Hoya: Who wins?
IMHO the Golden Boy prevails. Oscar had such a good foundation as amateur and the jab which made him champion was good up to the pros. It'll be a battle of jabs all night and i see Oscar pulling a victory on a prime Forrest
De La Hoya lost all his big fights against blacks in his prime. Vernon Forest by UD
Oscar cuz Forrest died many years ago. Got robbed at a gas station cuz he was driving a jaguar. You can see the killers on Youtube.
De la Hoya.
Both were successful at 147lb and 154lb. Both fought Mosley (2x), Mayorga, and Ike Quartey.
They never met up though, so if they had met at welterweight or junior-middleweight (if you think it makes a difference), who wins?
