Javier Castillejo vs Oscar De La Hoya

On Saturday, 23rd June 2001, the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, played host to a junior-middleweight bout between Javier Castillejo and Oscar De La Hoya. This match, promoted by Forum Boxing, M&M Sports, and Univision Sports, was aired live on TVKO HBO Pay-per-view. Both fighters came in at 154 lbs exactly.

De La Hoya was eyeing his sixth world title in as many weight classes, while Castillejo, the reigning WBC World Super-welterweight champion, aimed to defend his title for the sixth time.

The fight began with De La Hoya establishing his dominance early, showcasing his speed and technical skills. He effectively utilized his left jab and worked the body of Castillejo, who struggled to match De La Hoya's pace and precision. Throughout the bout, De La Hoya maintained control, displaying superior footwork and ring generalship, effectively neutralizing Castillejo's offense.

Despite De La Hoya's clear advantage, Castillejo displayed tremendous heart and determination, never backing down from the challenge. In the closing seconds of the final round, De La Hoya managed to score a knockdown, sending Castillejo to the canvas for the first and only time in the fight. Castillejo managed to get back on his feet and see out the remainder of the contest.

After twelve hard-fought rounds, the judges' scorecards were unanimous in their decision. Judges Chuck Giampa, Anek Hongtongkam, and John Keane all scored the fight 119-108 in favor of Oscar De La Hoya. With this victory, De La Hoya not only claimed the WBC World Super-welterweight Title but also made history as one of the few fighters to win world titles in six different weight classes.