Early ’90’s Oscar De La Hoya Worn, Signed Boxing Gloves

Oscar De La Hoya is an American former professional boxer who, in 2002, also became a boxing promoter and, in 2018, a mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter. As a boxer, he competed from 1992 to 2008, winning 11 world titles in six weight classes, including the lineal championship in three weight classes. He is ranked as the 13th best boxer of all time, pound for pound, by BoxRec. De La Hoya was nicknamed “The Golden Boy of boxing” by the media when he represented the United States at the 1992 Summer Olympics where, shortly after having graduated from James A. Garfield High School, he won a gold medal in the lightweight division, and reportedly “set a sport back on its feet.”

These blue Cleto Reyes gloves were used by De La Hoya in the early 1990’s in sparring practice. This is around the era of the Olympics in which he became “The Golden Boy”. The wrist strings are still intact and wear is shown on the white logos that are distressed. They also have sweat wear (discoloration) on the laces and in the interior. They are tagged [size] medium. The left glove features De La Hoya’s autograph in black felt tip with the year it was autographed , “Gold ’92” .  The gloves were signed and given to a friend after a practice sparring session.

As the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona approached, De La Hoya turned his mother’s dream into a strong focus for his training. After an upset victory in the first round over the Mexican boxer Julio Gonzalez; De La Hoya defeated German boxer Marco Rudolph to win gold. Rudolph had been the only fighter to defeat him in the last several years, adding drama. The U.S. media publicized his quest to fulfill his mother’s dying wish and nicknamed him, “The Golden Boy”, which has remained with him throughout his career.

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Oscar De La Hoya Worn, Signed Boxing Gloves