OSCAR DE LA HOYA fought the best of his generation – but one rival stands out among them all.

The Golden Boy won belts in SIX different divisions but retried in 2008 following a one-sided loss to Manny Pacquiao.

Floyd Mayweather beat Oscar de la Hoya in 2007Credit: AP:Associated Press

De la Hoya was sent into retirement by Manny PacquiaoCredit: AP:Associated Press

A year earlier, he was edged out on a split-decision by Floyd Mayweather – in a bout that broke pay-per-view records at the time.

But it was his two-fight series with Shane Mosley and the speed of the American that lives long in the memory for De La Hoya.

He told Ring Magazine in 2018: “It was ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley in the first fight. He had amazing hand speed.

“With him it was just the speed behind his punches; even though you can see them coming, there were so many – and very accurate and great power.”

Mosley beat De La Hoya in 2000 and then again three years later, in a result deemed more controversial.

In 2007, his blockbuster with Mayweather sold 2.4m PPVs.

It stood as a boxing record until unbeaten Mayweather’s 2015 win over Pacquiao, which drew in 4.6m PPVs in America.

De La Hoya was quick to compare the speed of Mayweather and Mosley, who also fought in 2010.

He said: “It’s not like Sugar Shane Mosley with four- and five-punch combinations.

“Mayweather is more like you throw a jab and he’ll counter it. That’s his speed.

“I think Shane Mosley in his prime was the fastest fighter I’ve met.”

Following De La Hoya’s retirement, he focused on promoting, working with the likes of Ryan Garcia, Jaime Munguia and Vergil Ortiz.

Shane Mosley and De La Hoya had two memorable fightsCredit: AP:Associated Press