Children often dream about what they want to be when they grow up. They have big plans and even bigger ideas. They dress up and pretend to be firefighters, scientists, veterinarians, athletes and doctors. These dreams often shape who we are.
I always knew I wanted to create, innovate, and be a part of something bigger than myself. I would have never thought I would be Senior Marketing Manager for AT&T Entertainment Group, yet I found a company that allows me to realize my dreams.
I recently interviewed Oscar De La Hoya – another dream come true .
My father was a boxer in the marines, and taught my siblings and me the basics of boxing. I grew up watching great boxers. Seeing a fellow Latino like De La Hoya become a trailblazer as a boxer, promoter and business community leader is exciting. Though he is not perfect, he is a leader in his right.
De La Hoya accepts he has made mistakes. I enjoyed hearing about how his big childhood dreams helped him stay focused during those times.
De La Hoya shared, “Personal battles are sometimes the toughest to fight.” He wanted to be more than just a boxer from east Los Angeles. His dreams of becoming a professional boxer were in his blood. Boxing has always been a part of the De La Hoya lifestyle and family culture, much like in my own family. His grandfather, father, brother, and even his cousin are all boxers.
"Boxing was everything to me,” De La Hoya said. “I know that everything I have, I owe to the sport of boxing, and I will never forget that."
His family inspired him, especially his mom. De La Hoya’s mom passed away when he was a young child. She taught him to dream big and to never give up. And he has done just that. As a professional boxer, De La Hoya won 10 world titles in 6 different weight classes. He represented the U.S. in the 1992 Summer Olympics earning the name “Golden Boy” after his gold medal win. This name became much more to the boxing world than anyone anticipated.
De La Hoya continues to dream big. In 2002, he founded Golden Boy Promotions becoming the first Hispanic American to own a boxing promotions company and open doors for other young Latinos and Latinas pursuing boxing dreams.
De La Hoya is proud to be a Latino. His identity is rooted in his dual citizenship and a testament to his Mexican and American pride. He celebrates his heritage through boxing, the sport that started his empire and now gives him the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of young men determined to succeed in boxing careers.
His inspiration is deeply rooted in the positive impact boxing has in the lives of many up-and-coming fighters. "At Golden Boy Promotions, we pride ourselves on scouting talent from where I grew up in East Los Angeles.
The advice he gives to younger boxers is to always celebrate what it means to be a Mexican-American and to bring out their best during a fight.
De La Hoya continued, “My Mexican heritage and culture was one of the most important factors in my boxing career. Throughout my boxing life, every victory has felt like a win for the Mexican people. I continued to fight for them every time I stepped in the ring.”.
De La Hoya would like to expand Golden Boy Promotions into the world’s biggest boxing promotions company and bring boxing to broader audiences. Technology has been an invaluable tool to express and share his passion for boxing and will continue to help him grow. “Golden Boy Promotions strives to be a trailblazer in technology,” he says.
As an extension of our Hispanic Heritage Month series, it is my pleasure to recognize Oscar De La Hoya as a passionate Latino who celebrates his heritage and inspires youth to work hard and be a part of something bigger than themselves.
Let us know what you’re most passionate about and how you express passion for your culture using #ExpresaTuPasion. And follow @ATTLatino on Twitter to make sure you don’t miss out on any of the upcoming blogs.
Christina Cabral is a Senior Marketing Manager for AT&T Entertainment Group based in Houston, TX.