I think it is because Oscar came along in 1992.. Tommy Hearns fought in his popularity height for the last time in 1992 and we needed another generation which was great. So the public embraced Oscar Delahoya. Oscar was seen as the first of the next generation of fighters after Hearns,Hagler,Duran and Leonard. And alot of hope was put on him. Even though he has not really beaten the top guys of his generation, he has sort of directed what fights have been big and who is the guy to fight. He dictated this generations pace. He is different than Sugar Ray Leonard in that Ray dictated because he beat everyone -Benitez, Hearns,Duran,Hagler etc. Oscar has pretty much lost to all the good guys he has fought, but he still dictates. He has more charisma or something than the others, especially to do this in light of all the loses.