In becoming the first boxer to win world titles in six different weight classes, boxing's "Golden Boy" grew old in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Many at the MGM Grand thought the doughty German Felix Sturm had done enough to rob Oscar de la Hoya of his dream - but fight fans of the future will see only the result in the record books.
It is a remarkable triumph from an extraordinary fighter whose popularity has been boosted over the years by a warrior-like spirit and matinee idol looks.
The combination has proved as potent as his punches and has made De la Hoya the biggest pull outside the heavyweights for most of his career.
That career has lost its way since the defeat to Felix Trinidad in 1999 - a pair of close losses to Shane Mosley in 2000 and 2003 the other blemishes on his record.
And some will now question the wisdom of the proposed "mega-fight" with middleweight king Bernard Hopkins in September.
 | DE LA HOYA FACT FILE Born: 04/02/1973 Turned pro: 23/11/1992 Current division: Middleweight Record: 35(29)-3 Alias: The Golden Boy Height: 5ft 11in Reach: 72in Trainer: Floyd Mayweather Snr Promoter: Bob Arum |
The 39-year-old Hopkins is eight years older than his rival, but looked half De la Hoya's age in disposing of Robert Allen on the same card in Vegas.
And some unkind pundits will tell you De la Hoya looked like what he is against Sturm - a puffed-up little man fighting well beyond his means.
But that is not to take away from his achievements - of which, let us not forget, there have been many.
De la Hoya's career started with a gold medal from the 1992 Olympics - he was the only US boxer to achieve the feat in Barcelona.
He celebrated with the US flag in one hand and acknowledged his heritage by holding the Mexican flag in the other.
That victory is rated by De la Hoya as his "most gratifying".
And there have been many to choose from, with impressive defeats of Pernell Whitaker, Julio Cesar Chavez, John John Molina and Miguel Angel Gonzalez on his CV.
| TITLE WINS AT EACH WEIGHT 5/3/1994: Stops Jimmi Bredahl (WBO super featherweight) 6/5/1995: Stops Rafael Ruelas (IBF lightweight) 7/6/1996: Stops Julio Cesar Chavez (WBC light welterweight) 12/4/1997: Outpoints Pernell Whitaker (WBC welterweight) 23/6/2001: Outpoints Javier Castillejo (WBC light middleweight) 5/6/2004: Outpoints Felix Sturm (WBO middleweight) |
De la Hoya's fourth-round stoppage of legendary Mexican Chavez in 1996 to land the WBC light welterweight crown marked him out for greatness.
Then, 10 months later, De la Hoya out-pointed lightweight great Whitaker across 12 rounds to win the WBC welterweight belt to assuage any doubters.
After seven successful defences, De la Hoya lost his unbeaten record to Trinidad on a dubious 12-round majority decision in September 1999 - a result De la Hoya remains bitter about to this day.
A split-decision loss to Mosley less than a year later suggested De la Hoya was finding it tough climbing through the ranks and De la Hoya lost another controversial decision to "Sugar Shane" three years later - although many thought it a fair one.
De la Hoya remains a formidable force in boxing, drawing crowds and generating money wherever he goes. But the Sturm debacle illustrated that his number is up.
De la Hoya stands to earn $30m for the match with Hopkins - and he deserves every penny for what he has given back to the sport he loves.
MMIX
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