Calzaghe, Oscar De la Hoya & Trinidad inducted into the IBHOF

COMPILED BY MICHAEL AMAKOR | INFORMATION CULLED FROM WWW.BWAA.ORG

OSCAR DE LA HOYA

Career: 1992-2008
World championships:

• WBO Super Featherweight (March 5, 1994 – July 29, 1994, 1 Defense; vacated);
• WBO Lightweight (July 29, 1994 – 1996, 6 Defenses; vacated);
•  IBF Lightweight (May 6, 1995; vacated); Lineal Jr. Welterweight/WBC Super Lightweight (June 7, 1996 – April 12, 1997, 1 Defense; vacated);
• Lineal/WBC Welterweight (April 12, 1997 – September 18, 1999, 7 Defenses);
• Lineal Jr. Middleweight/WBC Super Welterweight (June 23, 2001 – September 13, 2003, 2 Defenses);
• WBA Super Welterweight (September 14, 2002 – September 13, 2003, 1 Defense);
• WBO Middleweight (June 5, 2004 – September 18, 2004); WBC Super Welterweight (May 6, 2006 – May 5, 2007)

Hailed from: Montebello, California
Record: 39-6 (30 KO) Boxrec Record
Record against champions and Hall of Famers: 24-5 (17 KO)

Champions faced: Troy Dorsey, Jimmi Bredahl, Jorge Paez, John John Molina, Rafael Ruelas, Genaro Hernandez, Jesse James Lejia, Julio Cesar Chavez, Miguel Angel Gonzalez, Pernell Whitaker, Hector Camacho, Ike Quartey, Felix Trinidad, Shane Mosley, Arturo Gatti, Javier Castillejo, Fernando Vargas, Luis Ramon Campas, Felix Sturm, Bernard Hopkins, Ricardo Mayorga, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Steve Forbes, Manny Pacquiao.

Champions defeated: Troy Dorsey (RTD 1); Jimmi Bredahl (RTD 10); Jorge Paez (KO 2); John John Molina (UD 12): Rafael Ruelas (TKO 2); Genaro Hernandez (RTD 6); Jesse James Leija (RTD 2); Julio Cesar Chavez (TKO 4, RTD 8); Miguel Angel Gonzalez (UD 12); Pernell Whitaker (UD 12); Hector Camacho (UD 12); Ike Quartey (SD12); Arturo Gatti (TKO 5); Javier Castillejo (UD 12); Fernando Vargas (TKO 11); Luis Ramon Campas (TKO 7); Felix Sturm (UD 12); Ricardo Mayorga (TKO 6), Steve Forbes (UD 12)

The native of Montebello, California put together a sterling amateur career (234-6, 163 KO) capped with an Olympic gold medal in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, the only American boxer to win his weight class. His story of fulfilling the wish of his dying mother propelled De La Hoya into the spotlight long before the Olympics, and that script produced his defining nickname, “The Golden Boy.” His stated goal upon turning pro was to win titles in a then-unprecedented six weight classes, and he ended up doing just that as he won belts between 130 and 160. His superior height, extraordinarily fast hands and a deadly left hook (he was naturally left-handed) enabled De La Hoya to achieve his professional goals while his movie-star looks, megawatt smile, fan-friendly approach and emotional back story vaulted him into mainstream consciousness. He lost only five of 29 title fights and win or lose his star-power resulted in record pay-per-view numbers. In May 2007, De La Hoya vs. Mayweather established an all-time record for pay-per-view buys with 2.4 million. Along with Richard Schaefer, Oscar De La Hoya continues in boxing managing Golden Boy Promotions, which is now one of the top promotional companies in the sport.

JOE CALZAGHE

Joe Calzaghe
Career: 1993-2008

World Championships:

• WBO Super Middleweight (October 11, 1997 – June 27, 2008, 21 Defenses; vacated);
• IBF Super Middleweight (March 4, 2006 – November 27, 2006, 1 Defense; vacated);
• Lineal/Ring Magazine Super Middleweight (March 4, 2006 – September 28, 2008, 3 Defenses; vacated);
• WBA and WBC Super Middleweight (November 3, 2007 – June 27. 2008; vacated);
• Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight (April 19, 2008 – February 5, 2009, 1 Defense; retired)

Hailed from: Newbridge, Wales, United Kingdom
Record: 46-0 (32 KO) Boxrec Record
Record against champions and Hall of Famers: 10-0, 2 KO

Champions faced: Chris Eubank, Robin Reid, Richie Woodhall, Charles Brewer, Byron Mitchell, Jeff Lacy, Sakio Bika, Mikkel Kessler, Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones Jr.

Champions defeated: Chris Eubank (UD12); Robin Reid (SD12); Richie Woodhall (TKO10); Charles Brewer (UD12); Byron Mitchell (TKO2); Jeff Lacy (UD12); Sakio Bika (UD12); Mikkel Kessler (UD12); Bernard Hopkins (SD12); Roy Jones Jr. (UD12)

His defeat of the formidable Chris Eubank in October 1997 was Joe Calzaghe’s announcement to the super middleweight division that it would become his playground. Brittle hands and accusations that he was strictly a British sensation plagued the southpaw, but by 2006, the “Pride of Wales” was undefeated in forty fights. In March of that year, he made a grand entrance onto the international stage when he outclassed American Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy—the betting favorite on both sides of the Atlantic. The victory showcased his natural athleticism, non-stop punching style, and charisma and launched him into THE RING’s “pound-for-pound” list, where he remained for the rest of his career. On November 4, 2007, he defeated top rival Mikkel Kessler to become the super middleweight king. And he wasn’t finished yet. Within a span of seven months in 2008, he defeated two Hall-of-Famers in Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones, Jr. It was befitting that the hand of this timeless champion was raised for the last time at Madison Square Garden. His record at his retirement stands at 46-0 (32). Calzaghe once said that he wanted to be “remembered as one of the best British boxers ever.” He certainly was.

FELIX “TITO” TRINIDAD

Career: 1990-2008
Felix Trinidad Career Highlights by chinoir509

World championships:

• IBF Welterweight (June 19, 1993 – March 3, 2000, 15 Defenses; vacated);
• Lineal/WBC Welterweight (September 18, 1999 – March 3, 2000; vacated);
• WBA Super Welterweight (March 3, 2000 – May 12, 2001, 2 Defenses; vacated);
• IBF Super Welterweight (December 2, 2000 – May 12, 2001; vacated); WBA Middleweight (2001)

Hailed from: Cupey Alto, Puerto Rico
Record: 42-3, 35 KO Boxrec Record
Record against champions and Hall of Famers: 20-1, 16 KO

Champions faced: Jake Rodriguez, Maurice Blocker, Hector Camacho, Yori Boy Campas, Freddie Pendleton, Pernell Whitaker, Oscar De La Hoya, David Reid, Fernando Vargas, William Joppy, Bernard Hopkins, Hacine Cherifi, Ricardo Mayorga, Winky Wright, Roy Jones Jr.

Champions defeated: Jake Rodriguez (UD10); Maurice Blocker (KO2); Hector Camacho (UD12); Yori Boy Campas (TKO4); Freddie Pendleton (KO5); Pernell Whitaker (UD12); Oscar De La Hoya (MD12); David Reid (UD12); Fernando Vargas (TKO12); William Joppy (TKO5); Hacine Cherifi (TKO4); Ricardo Mayorga (TKO8)

When he came off the floor twice to stop Alberto Cortes in his 16th fight, the hint of something special was at hand. Like a Welterweight Joe Louis, “Tito” Trinidad had a knack for getting knocked down…and getting up. Along the way, he defended the IBF Welterweight title 15 times, the second most consecutive defenses ever. The reign began with the knockout of Blocker and took shape in 1994 when Trinidad dominated the veteran Camacho and came off the deck to stop undefeated challengers Campas and Oba Carr. In 1999, he became the first man to decisively beat Hall of Famer Pernell Whitaker and won a still-debated decision over De La Hoya in his last Welterweight fight. A pair of off-the-canvas title wins over 1996 Olympians Reid and Vargas, the latter selected Ring Magazine’s greatest Jr. Middleweight title fight ever, were followed by a crushing knockout of Joppy in the 2001 Middleweight unification tournament. A loss in the final to Bernard Hopkins saw Trinidad finally put on the deck and kept there. He returned to the ring only four times in the ensuing seven years, going 2-2 before stepping away for good.

ARTICLES ABOUT THESE HALL OF FAMERS

TRINIDAD VS MAYORGA PRE-FIGHT ANALYSIS
http://original.fightkings.com/TrinidadvsMayorga.htm

HOPKINS VS DE LA HOYA PRE-FIGHT ANALYSIS
http://original.fightkings.com/HopkinsvsOscarDelaHoya.htm 

WINKY BEATS TITO
http://original.fightkings.com/winkybeatstito.htm

OSCAR STOPS MAYORGA

http://original.fightkings.com/oscarstopsmayorga.htm

CALZAGHE REMAINS UNDISPUTED
http://www.fightkings.com/boxing/?p=2306



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