On Saturday, June 9 boxing fans will be treated to a night of classic fight action, as FOX Deportes reaches into the video vault of Golden Boy Promotions to present fights featuring Oscar “Golden Boy” de la Hoya and former World Champion “Vicious” Victor Ortiz. The special broadcast will air on FOX Deportes beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT.
Fight fans will have the opportunity to revisit a classic De La Hoya fight from April 12, 1997 when he engaged in one of the most memorable battles of his career against future Hall of Famer Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker in a 12 round brawl.
Heading into this clash for Whitaker’s WBC Welterweight World title, the then 23-0 De La Hoya had already won titles in junior lightweight, lightweight and junior welterweight divisions, but he had never faced anyone like “Sweet Pea,” a defensive wizard who at the time had a 40-1-1 record and was still at the height of his career. On that night in Las Vegas, it was De La Hoya who left the ring with a hard-fought unanimous decision win and his fourth divisional title.
The special broadcast also features Ortiz’s May 15, 2010 clash with former World Champion Nate “The Galaxxy Warrior” Campbell in which Ortiz was tested and proved he was ready for primetime.
The southpaw displayed his power and perseverance by dropping Campbell in the first round and then outlasting the former world champion in their fight which ended in a 10-round decision victory for Ortiz. This look back at a classic Ortiz fight will help get fight fans ready for his next bout, a stiff test in Josesito Lopez on June 23 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Calif. for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver Welterweight title, which will be the main event of a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast which begins at 9 p.m. ET/PT (tape delayed on the West Coast).
