Oscar De La Hoya vs Shane Mosley

On Saturday, 17th June 2000, the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, witnessed its first-ever boxing match, a thrilling battle between Oscar De La Hoya and Shane Mosley. This historic event was promoted by Top Rank and Cedric Kushner Productions, and aired live on HBO Pay-per-view. The WBC and IBA World Welterweight Titles were on the line, with De La Hoya making his first defense of the IBA belt. The fight lived up to the hype and was later named The Ring magazine Event of the Year for 2000.

In front of a packed house at the newly built Staples Center, De La Hoya, weighing in at 146½ lbs, faced off against Mosley, who weighed in at the welterweight limit of 147 lbs. The atmosphere was electric, as both fighters boasted impressive records and were considered among the best in their division. With Lou Moret serving as referee, the stage was set for a memorable showdown.

The fight proved to be a closely contested, back-and-forth battle, with both fighters giving their all. De La Hoya, known for his powerful left hook and quick footwork, sought to control the pace of the fight. Mosley, on the other hand, relied on his superior speed and athleticism to counter De La Hoya's advances.

As the fight progressed, both De La Hoya and Mosley demonstrated their resilience and heart, refusing to back down. Despite De La Hoya's attempts to impose his will, Mosley managed to match him blow for blow. The final punch statistics revealed a close contest, with Mosley landing 284 of his 678 thrown punches (42%), while De La Hoya connected with 257 of his 718 attempts (36%).

After twelve exhilarating rounds, the decision was in the hands of the judges. In a split decision, two judges scored the fight for Mosley with scores of 116-112 and 115-113, while the third judge had De La Hoya as the winner with a score of 115-113. Ultimately, Shane Mosley emerged victorious, claiming both the WBC and IBA World Welterweight Titles.