Oscar De La Hoya vs. Oba Carr

Oscar De La Hoya vs. Oba Carr was a professional boxing match contested on May 22, 1999, for the WBC welterweight title.[1]

Oscar De La Hoya vs. Oba Carr
DateMay 22, 1999
VenueMandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
Title(s) on the lineWBC welterweight title
Tale of the tape
Boxer Oscar De La Hoya Oba Carr
Nickname The Golden Boy Motor City
Hometown East Los Angeles, California, U.S. Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Purse $5,000,000 $350,000
Pre-fight record 30–0 (24 KO) 48–2–1 (28 KO)
Age 26 years, 3 months 27 years
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) 5 ft 9+12 in (177 cm)
Weight 147 lb (67 kg) 147 lb (67 kg)
Style Orthodox Orthodox
Recognition WBC
Welterweight Champion
The Ring No. 1 ranked pound-for-pound fighter
3-division world champion
WBC
No. 1 Ranked Welterweight
Result
De La Hoya wins via 11th-round TKO

Background

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Just over three months prior, reigning WBC welterweight champion Oscar De La Hoya had successfully defended his title against arguably his toughest opponent, undefeated former WBA welterweight champion Ike Quartey, earning a close split decision victory. On the undercard of the De La Hoya–Quartey main event, Oba Carr, twice before a welterweight title challenger, beat three-time super lightweight champion Frankie Randall to become the WBC's number-one ranked welterweight contender and set up a De La Hoya–Carr welterweight title bout.[2] Going into the fight, the heavily favored De La Hoya somewhat overlooked Carr, as he had already signed a contract to meet then-IBF welterweight champion Félix Trinidad in what was a highly anticipated unification bout set for later in the year on September 18.[3] Despite his status as a sizeable underdog, during the pre-fight hype, Carr made bizarre claims that he had been anointed by God to defeat De La Hoy, going as far as to predict that "a couple tons of anointing oil will come down" on him during the fight causing supernatural results.[4]

The featured bout on the undercard saw Floyd Mayweather Jr. make the third defense of his WBC super featherweight title against Justin Juuko. Juuko was a last-minute replacement for Goyo Vargas who was forced to pull out after being diagnosed with a sinus infection and gastroenteritis.[5]

The fight

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De La Hoya got off to a quick start, sending Carr down to his knees midway through the first round after landing a short left hook to Carr's head. However, De La Hoya suffered a sprained left index finger in the second after landing a jab, and the injury hindered his performance from then on, causing him to struggle against a game Carr at times during the fight. Carr hurt himself on the scorecards during the seventh round when he committed two separate fouls that cost him one point each time. The first foul was a headbutt that opened a gash under De La Hoya's left eye, while the second foul was for a low blow. In the 11th round, De La Hoya gained his second knockdown over Carr after countering a Carr jab with another left hook that landed flush against the side of Carr's head. Carr was able to get back up but was on wobbly legs. Referee Richard Steele twice motioned for Carr to come forward to him, but the dazed Carr failed to respond and Steele stopped the fight at 55 seconds into the round, giving De La Hoya the victory by technical knockout.[6]

Fight card

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Confirmed bouts:[7]

Weight Class Weight vs. Method Round Notes
Welterweight 147 lbs. Oscar De La Hoya (c) def Oba Carr TKO 11/12 Note 1
Super Featherweight 130 lbs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. def. Justin Juuko KO 9/12 Note 2
Heavyweight 200+ lbs. Maurice Harris def. Louis Monaco TKO 1/8
Heavyweight 200+ lbs. Lamon Brewster def. Mario Cawley KO 2/8
Lightweight 135 lbs. Carlos Gerena def. Angel Aldama UD 8/8
Super Welterweight 154 lbs. Tonton Semakala def. Jose Marcial Canas UD 4/4

^Note 1 For WBC welterweight title
^Note 2 For WBC super featherweight title

Broadcasting

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Country Broadcaster
  United States HBO

References

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  1. ^ "Oscar De La Hoya vs. Oba Carr". boxrec.com. BoxRec. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  2. ^ De La Hoya Escapes, Head and Title Intact, NY Times article, 1999-02-15 Retrieved on 2024-08-17
  3. ^ De La Hoya: Bring on Trinidad, NY Post article, 1999-05-14 Retrieved on 2024-08-17
  4. ^ The Chosen One, LA Times article, 1999-05-20 Retrieved on 2024-08-17
  5. ^ Once Feared, De La Hoya Is Fighting to Regain Respect, NY Times article, 1999-05-21 Retrieved on 2024-08-17
  6. ^ Oscar Puts Brakes to Carr, NY Times article, 1999-05-23 Retrieved on 2024-08-17
  7. ^ "BoxRec - event".
Preceded by Oscar De La Hoya's bouts
22 May 1999
Succeeded by
Preceded by Oba Carr's bouts
22 May 1999
Succeeded by
vs. Ramon Baez