On Saturday, May 6th, 2006, Ricardo Mayorga and Oscar De La Hoya faced off at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event, promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, featured Mayorga defending his WBC World Super-welterweight title for the first time. Boxing fans eagerly tuned in to watch the fight, which aired on HBO Pay-per-view.
De La Hoya, making his return to the ring after a 20-month layoff, managed to defeat Mayorga in an impressive display of skill and determination. The fight concluded in the sixth round with a TKO at 1:25, as referee Jay Nady called an end to the bout. Both fighters weighed in at 153½ lbs, showcasing their physical preparedness for the high-stakes match.
The fight proved to be quite lucrative for both athletes. De La Hoya earned a guaranteed $8 million from his purse, and with his share of the pay-per-view revenues, his total earnings were reportedly around $20 million. Mayorga, on the other hand, took home a purse of $2 million.
The bout generated significant interest and revenue, with HBO announcing on May 10th that the event had garnered 875,000 pay-per-view buys and $43.8 million in revenue. This figure was later updated on July 5th, 2006, with HBO revealing that the fight had actually generated $46.3 million in revenue from 925,000 buys.
De La Hoya's victory marked the tenth world title he had won across six different weight classes, solidifying his legacy as one of boxing's greats. However, the fight was not without controversy. Mayorga later tested positive for the diuretic Furosemide (also known as Lasix), which can be used to lose weight quickly or mask steroid use. This matter was subsequently investigated by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
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