Oscar de la Hoya was The Ring magazine's top-rated fighter in the world in 1999.
 Although the fight was at a catchweight of 158 pounds (72 kg), many thought De La Hoya was too small for the weight class and Hopkins was considered a heavy favorite
On May 3, 2008, at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, De La Hoya fought Steve Forbes (335) in a tuneup for a possible rematch with Mayweather

