Oscar De La Hoya vs Carl Griffith

On Friday 18th November 1994, Oscar De La Hoya defended his WBO World Lightweight Title against Carl Griffith at the MGM Grand, Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas. The fight was promoted by Top Rank & Roy Jones Jr Boxing Promotions and aired on HBO World Championship Boxing.

Oscar De La Hoya, who was 14-0-0 going into the fight, dominated from the outset, controlling the pace and taking control of the ring. The first round was a close affair, with both fighters looking to establish their dominance, but it was De La Hoya who took the early lead.

In the second round, De La Hoya stepped up his game, unleashing a series of powerful combinations that had Griffith on the ropes. Despite showing tremendous heart, Griffith was unable to withstand the barrage of punches and was knocked down twice.

In the third round, De La Hoya continued his assault, catching Griffith with a powerful left hook that sent him to the canvas for the third time. Referee Mitch Halpern stepped in to call a halt to the contest, awarding De La Hoya the TKO victory at 1:02 of the round.

The fight appeared on the undercard of the much-anticipated James Toney vs. Roy Jones Jr. clash, but it was De La Hoya who stole the show. The victory marked the first defense of his WBO World Lightweight Title and cemented his place as one of the top fighters in the division.