Quote Originally Posted by SweetPea
Our next fight:

April 12, 1997: Pernell Whitaker (40-1-1, 17 KO) vs. Oscar De La Hoya (23-0, 20 KO) for Whitaker's WBC Welterweight Championship.

This is 24-year-old DLH's first fight at 147 after vacating his 140 pound title. Whitaker, now 33, has been welterweight champion for over 4 years, ever since he originally defeated Buddy McGirt for the title at Madison Square Garden in March 1993.
Both fighters are considered undefeated going into this fight, as Whitaker's one loss and one draw are heavily disputed. Despite being the challenger, DLH is the clear betting favorite due to his advantage in punching power and his 9 year age advantage over a past-his-prime Whitaker.

De La Hoya won by a controversial unanimous decision, by the scores of 116-110, 116-110, 115-111.

One thing to enjoy during this fight is the sound of Lampley and Merchant arguing with each other for almost the entire 12 rounds.
115-113 Whitaker. That's only because he gave the last round away while showboating. Oscar could never land a good punch, Oscar landed more power shots but I swear I never saw them as Whitaker was able to elude him all night. I think prime on prime Whitaker would have probably dominated him like he did Chavez. There was a small mouse under Whitakers eye due to a thumb. Whitaker landed 50 more punches and was the ring general in the fight. During the fight you could tell Whitaker was more skilled despite the physical deteriation due too old age. One of boxing's all time greatest boxers, deserved a rematch that Oscar promised in the interview after the fight, but it never happened.