With Oscar De La Hoya vs Steve Forbes ready to go this Saturday on May 3rd on PPV I have decided to take a closer look at Oscar De La Hoya and breakdown his skills. De La Hoya, 38-5, 30 KO’s, the celebrity boxer is currently the #3 rated Jr. Middleweight in the world and his opponent Steve Forbes, 33-5, 9 KO’s, is a top-10 welterweight stepping up 7 pounds to challenge the icon in a 12-round bout.

Oscar has been more businessman than fighter nowadays with a 1 fight per year schedule, but he is slated for a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr. on September 20th in Vegas. As I take a closer look at Oscar I have decided to take the time to break down his boxing skills on a 1-10 scale. Oscar De La Hoya is a -2000 boxing betting favorite in the Oscar De La Hoya vs Steve Forbes bout.

POWER 7.5: Oscar is still a natural born puncher with a sizzling left hook that can put the lights out of most fighters when it lands on the button. De La Hoya also has a strong right hand and a solid body attack to complement his hook. At 154 Lbs. De La Hoya isn’t the one-punch KO artist that he was early in his career at 135 Lbs. and his style now is more boxer than puncher.

SIZE\AGE 7.0: At age 35 Oscar is past his prime but he is still a fresh fighter as a 43-fight veteran. While De La Hoya’s reaction’s have slowed a step he is still a good sized Jr. Middleweight at 5'11" with a 73" inch reach.

SPEED 8.0: De La Hoya is still a fast puncher that can put together accurate combinations to the head and body. Oscar can unload flurries that are hard to defend with good timing. De La Hoya doesn’t have the fastest set of wheels but his agility is still above-average.

STAMINA 6.0: Oscar knows how to go the championship 12-round distance but he usually begins to fade after the middle rounds. De La Hoya’s legs grow weary late in fights and even when in top-shape his gas tank hasn’t been of top-caliber.

BOXING SKILL 8.0: De La Hoya has worked with a variety of trainers over the years and has picked up a little from each of them in the boxing department. De La Hoya can move, counter and use distance very well when he is fresh. Oscar however will sometimes neglect to use his jab at times which drops his rating down.

DEFENSE 7.5: The model faced De La Hoya has never had his nose broken in a prizefight which is a testament to his defensive prowess. Oscar has a textbook chin tucked hands high defense that has served him well. Despite his great technique Oscar doesn’t move his head enough and is somewhat stiff.

RESILIENCY 6.5: With boatloads of money in the bank De La Hoya really doesn’t need to fight any more. At times their seems to be a switch in De La Hoya’s head that turns on and off as to if he still wants to be a boxer. De La Hoya has never liked getting hit to the body but he has always shown a very solid chin that has withstood the bombs of top punchers throughout his career.

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