23 years ago

Date: 24th March 2001

Venue: MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada

Title: 12 Round Welterweight Bout

Promoter: Main Events & Univision Sports

Tv: HBO Sports

Oscar De La Hoya
( 32 - 2 - 0 )
Weight: 147 lbs

Arturo Gatti
( 33 - 4 - 0 )
Weight: 146 lbs

On Saturday, 24th March 2001, the highly anticipated non-title bout took place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada between Oscar De La Hoya and Arturo Gatti. The fight, promoted by Main Events and Univision Sports, was aired live on HBO Sports. The two boxers entered the ring at their prime weights, with De La Hoya weighing in at 147 lbs and Gatti at 146 lbs. Jay Nady, an experienced referee, was assigned to officiate the match.

De La Hoya made an early impact by knocking Gatti down in the first round. Despite the early setback, Gatti showed resilience and tenacity, continuing to battle back against the "Golden Boy" De La Hoya. The audience at the MGM Grand enjoyed the high-energy exchanges between the two fighters.

As the rounds progressed, De La Hoya's superior speed became increasingly evident. Gatti, known for his heart and grit, continued to push forward but struggled to find an answer for De La Hoya's accuracy.

In the fifth round, De La Hoya's dominance reached its pinnacle. At 1:16 of the round, Gatti's corner had seen enough and threw in the towel, signalling the end of the match. The referee, Jay Nady, stepped in to halt the contest, awarding De La Hoya the victory by technical knockout (TKO).