Floyd Mayweather formed a real unique rivalry with Oscar De La Hoya which ran deep.
Mayweather had an epic boxing career where he traded verbal insults and physical blows with a number of the sport’s most high profile characters.
His most famous rivalries include showdowns with Manny Pacquiao, Ricky Hatton, Canelo Alvarez and his iconic wars of words with Conor McGregor.
The American was largely respectful towards a large proportion of his rivals who he beat en route to his famous unblemished 50-0 professional record.
But there was one who he hated more than any of his other opponents.
When asked exactly who that was, he replied quickly and bluntly: “Oscar De La Hoya.”
Mayweather famously had a seismic tilt with De La Hoya for the WBC super welterweight title in 2007.
The bout was one of the most hotly anticipated in the modern era, and became a booming commercial success as an event headlining Las Vegas.
Tensions were at a maximum when they finally laced up their gloves, given there were several spats between the two camps.
Origins of the passionate rivalry came largely down to rumours De La Hoya would be trained by Mayweather’s father.
It didn’t materialise, but it certainly stirred up a new found fire in the belly of both fighters to win.
And the American was taken all the way in one of the biggest challenges of his career.
‘Golden Boy’ lost to a narrow split decision but posed real threats to the world class defence of Mayweather.
He too had suggested that his most disliked opponent was ‘Money’ given their rift.
But nonetheless the pair wrote their name in boxing rivalry, and go down as two of the most gifted fighters in history.
Despite how close their maiden meeting was, the pair were never able to organise a highly sought after rematch.
And Mayweather’s dad, who had been thrust into the rivalry given the corner controversy, believes that his son actually was fortunate to have been given the decision.
He said: “If you want to call fights by scoring, points system, who’s throwing more punches, you had to give it to Oscar.
“If you’re just going on a guy hitting a guy with single shots, you have to give it to my son.
“My son had good defence, he caught a lot of punches with his shoulder and his arm, but it’s still about a guy throwing punches.
“If he touches you, he’s scoring. I thought the fight was a close fight, it’s just where the point system goes.
“If you look at the point system, who’s touching who the most. You’re gonna have to give it to Oscar if you’re going by point system.”
