May 12, 2022 by Nicole Canún Spanish for Kids 0 comments

Oscar De La Hoya Biography (Free Spanish Lessons for Kids)

High-performance athletes like Oscar de la Hoya possess qualities that kids aspire to. Discipline, motivation, self-awareness, resilience, persistence, and dedication—to name just a few.

Introducing your children to incredible stories about real-life heroes is a great first step toward the adoption of these attributes.

Let this Oscar de la Hoya biography for kids motivate your little ones to dream big and not hold back. Learn why Oscar’s nickname in the U.S. is “The Golden Boy” and where he is now. Finally, access engaging activities for kids related to de la Hoya!

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Who Is Oscar de La Hoya?

Oscar de la Hoya is a legendary boxing figure or pugilist—from the Latin “pugnus,” which means “fist”—whose achievements in sports and arts have won him countless fans worldwide. As a professional athlete and singer, Oscar has impressed audiences with his talents.

Oscar de la Hoya was born in Los Angeles, California in 1973. His parents, of Mexican origin, were a boxer and a singer. He naturally developed an inclination for boxing and music.

As a child, people perceived him as fearful, anxious, and nervous. This is why Oscar’s father decided to sign him up at a boxing club—and that’s when he realized his son’s athletic potential.

Recommended Reading: A Knock-Out Vocabulary Guide to Boxing in Spanish

Boxing Records

Oscar de la Hoya made history by being the only pugilist capable of holding six belts.

He held more records: winning 10 titles in six divisions and being the highest-paid boxer in the history of pugilism.

Oscar de la Hoya was the only US boxer to win a gold medal at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona at age 19, which earned him the nickname “The Golden Boy”.

After his triumph in Barcelona, Oscar de la Hoya officially started his career as a professional boxer. His fighting style stood out due to the few punches he received and his results. He has 39 victories under his belt out of 45 fights.

In 1996, Oscar gained worldwide prestige when he defeated legendary Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez and Pender Whitaker later that same year. By 1998, he was earning millions of dollars to fight.

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Oscar de la Hoya’s Music Career

In 1999, Oscar unknowingly launched his music career, while singing a song as a joke on the Don Francisco TV show. Little did the world know that he had another hidden talent.

When the Cristina Show invited de la Hoya for an interview, he arrived at the set and noticed a mariachi band waiting for him. Without rehearsing, he sang Amor de los dos (Love of Two). Long story short, he ended up signing with EMI records.

His album includes ballads, boleros, and dance music. He released a single called Ven a mí (Come to Me) in both English and Spanish. He appreciated the great acceptance of his second career path, especially coming from the Latino audience.

Oscar’s album was nominated as Best Latino Pop Album at the Grammys. After this, de la Hoya decided not to pursue this career path further.

Check out: Fun and Clean Spanish Songs for Your Classroom [+FREE Spotify Playlist]

Oscar de la Hoya Today

Oscar left the boxing ring after turning 30 to become a boxing promoter. He founded Golden Boy Promotions and now dedicates his life to furthering the careers of up-and-coming boxers.

How old is Oscar de la Hoya? He is now 49 years old and has a networth of approximately $700 million in pay-per-view income alone.

Oscar de la Hoya has six children, three from previous relationships and three with his wife, Puerto Rican singer Millie Corretjer. He and his family live in Pasadena, California.

See also:

Frida Kahlo’s Biography (Free Spanish Lessons For Kids)
Rigoberta Menchú’s Biography (Free Spanish Lessons for Kids)

Oscar de la Hoya’s Next Fight

Legendary Oscar de la Hoya is planning a return to boxing after being retired for 13 years. His next fight could be booked any day now.

Even though a rival hasn’t been confirmed yet, people believe it may be Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather, or Anderson Silva.

Fun Facts About Oscar De La Hoya

He debuted as an amateur in many fights and won more than 200
Oscar said his Olympic gold medal was for his mom and the titles were for him
He was Boxer of the Year in 1991
De la Hoya held titles in the lightweight, super lightweight, welterweight, and junior middleweight classes

Oscar de la Hoya Quotes

Print these inspirational quotes by Oscar de la Hoya and hang them on the wall!

1. “There is always space for improvement, no matter how long you’ve been in the business.”

2. “I want to get across the idea in the community that all children have some golden boy or golden girl in them.”

3. “When people say I can’t or I mustn’t, I always say I can and I will.”

5 Oscar de la Hoya Activities For Kids

Check out these five activities for kids to make this lesson a memorable one.

1. A Read-Aloud Book

Did I mention Oscar de la Hoya is also a children’s book author? Use it to teach your children about fitness and health.

In this bilingual picture book, Oscar de la Hoya promotes healthy habits through the story of Super Oscar.

This kid is on the verge of making a mess of a picnic he planned. But, if he uses his creativity, problem-solving abilities, and faster-than-lightning feet, he might save the day.

Get the Book

2. A Boxing Vocabulary Lesson

Use this vocabulary lesson to introduce your little ones to the world of boxing.

English	Spanish
bell	la campana
blow	el golpe
combat	el combate
forehand	el derechazo
gloves	los guantes
punching bag	el saco de boxeo
speed bag	la pera
ring	el cuadrilátero
ropes	las cuerdas

3. Word Search, Word Match, and Memory Game

Download our free printable activities for kids!

Keep Learning Spanish from the Experts

To encourage your children to pursue their interests in athletes, sports, and real-life heroes, consider teaching them Spanish. The Spanish language opens the door to Hispanic sports, arts, and inspirational personalities. It’s also an unbeatable tool for their future. Help them land better job opportunities, paychecks, and guarantee they can connect with more people of different cultures.

They can join the more than 580 million people who speak Spanish, which is the official language of 22 countries.

Sign up your kids for a free trial class at Homeschool Spanish Academy. Together, we’ll tailor a Spanish package that suits your children’s needs, goals, and interests. Access online, flexible, 1-to-1 sessions with our friendly, native-speaking, certified teachers.

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Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these

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Want more free Spanish lessons, fun content, and easy learning strategies for kids? Check these out!

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Nicole Canún

Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy

Blogger, content creator, and marketer. Proudly Mexican. Been to 30 countries. I love learning from different cultures and trying their cuisines. Obsessed with Asia. Fluent in Spanish and English, not so much in French.