Thread: Ryan Garcia vs Dela Hoya at 23

Why is he so far behind? He seems to have the talent yet also seems to prefer the tiktok/instagram world of today more.

This image is shocking to me.

There's a category missing. It's called "Shit-talking per Day."

Pauper Ry would take this by a country mile.

To be fair, social media didn't exist when Oscar was 23, or else we'd probably be having a different conversation.

if they had had social media back then.......

The fact that notoriously risk averse Bob Arum put Fishnets in world title fights so early in an era which the number of world level talented fighters was higher than it is now verus how slowly Garcia has been brought along tells you everything you need to know. De La Hoya was genuinely elite level, he had the skills to go with the looks and the hype that he got. Garcia does not. Just look at the level of competition De La Hoya was fighting from like his twelfth fight versus Garcia's last ten or eleven opponents. De La Hoya would have absolutely battered Garcia had they ever fought.

In his prime, Oscar was untouchable.

23 fights in the comparison is apples vs kiwi fruit. I actually think the social media exposure has proven a crutch for dudes today. At least Oscar blazed his own push out of Olympics and had that massive 'real' buzz. It was genuine fight to fight within 4 yrs and not some segments and rehearsed pad work. And to be honest, I couldn't stand the guy at all. Oscar and his big toothy colgate smile handed opportunity..but he made his bones very early in hindsight. Ryan is a kid content to hear his own voice just as long as it's the loudest.

oscar came proper. different eras

Oscar was the real deal and proved it. He took on the best and earned the big money. His legacy can not be denied.

Garcia will never match it.

Originally Posted by Master

Oscar was the real deal and proved it. He took on the best and earned the big money. His legacy can not be denied.

Garcia will never match it.

Not much more to add.

To be fair you can not match up to de la Hoya and still be pretty good. Ol' fishnets was a pretty handy boxer back in the day..

I find it hard to take anything Garcia says seriously he looks a bit ridiculous and talks nonsense so he doesn't offend me..I do think he has some good speed and power and a good few weaknesses that make him a lot of fun to watch (quite like bronzer, who i really want to see v Crawford), I look forward to gracias fights.

If the point of the thread is that's he's not as good as de la Hoya was then i obviously agree.

I remember there was big scepticism against Oscar when he was a young professional even when he first became world champion. He worked his way successfully up through the weights and then no one could deny that he was a boxing star. I was always a fan and think I only went against him when he fought Vargas and maybe Trinidad.

Originally Posted by Master

I remember there was big scepticism against Oscar when he was a young professional even when he first became world champion. He worked his way successfully up through the weights and then no one could deny that he was a boxing star. I was always a fan and think I only went against him when he fought Vargas and maybe Trinidad.

you were rooting for that steroid-cheat Vargas? (haha as I hypocritically support Big Baby). Oscar really spanked Fernando in that fight. Spanked him good. Should have let the fight a little longer IMO, for a really good ass-kickin after all the smack he talked to Oscar. I didnt like Oscar when I first saw him beat up the older Chavez. Was hard to watch at the time

https://youtube.com/shorts/__cB46T5JJc?feature=share

not taking anything away from oscar but that image is a bit deceptive. the wbo was not recognized as a major title back then

Originally Posted by NoSavingByTheBell

Originally Posted by Master

I remember there was big scepticism against Oscar when he was a young professional even when he first became world champion. He worked his way successfully up through the weights and then no one could deny that he was a boxing star. I was always a fan and think I only went against him when he fought Vargas and maybe Trinidad.

you were rooting for that steroid-cheat Vargas? (haha as I hypocritically support Big Baby). Oscar really spanked Fernando in that fight. Spanked him good. Should have let the fight a little longer IMO, for a really good ass-kickin after all the smack he talked to Oscar. I didnt like Oscar when I first saw him beat up the older Chavez. Was hard to watch at the time

https://youtube.com/shorts/__cB46T5JJc?feature=share

Vargas was a clean fighter up to that fight.

I also wanted Chavez to win, forgot about those 2 fights, Chavez was old when they fought.

Originally Posted by TIC

not taking anything away from oscar but that image is a bit deceptive. the wbo was not recognized as a major title back then

We need to get back to that. But early on at least we attempted to call it out. Belts and titles have gone the way of jack rabbit orgy, simple quantity over quality and fans are just counting along like muppets. The literal era of special issue "bling-belts" . All comes back to who did you fight. In fairness though I give Oscar more cred for taking a wbo strap from Bredahl than the wbo strap he never actually "took" at all a decade later over Sturm.