1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
pretty good book, covers mostly his life outside the ring, May 6, 2009
This review is from: American Son: My Story (Paperback)
Because I am a boxing fan, i bought and decided to read the story of Oscar De La Hoya.
It's a very easy, very smooth going book, and Oscar covers everything from his childhood, the acceptance he always wanted from his father, the Gold Medal he won for his mother, the Trinidad fight, and his entrance into being a full time promoter.
Most of the book covers behind the scenes stuff and i was pretty amazed at how open Oscar was, especially about his love life, and fathering several kids out of wedlock.
Overall, it's a very solid book. He doesn't really get too much into detail about his actual boxing matches, like in this round this and in this round that, but he does cover the overall matches, including a whole chapter devoted to the Trinidad fight.
He also writes about being upset with the fact that many fans, mostly Mexican people, how they always seemed to never include him as one of their own, even though he is Mexican-American.
Oscar spoke about how in beating Julio Cesar Chavez two times, he felt the Mexican people would embrace him, or at least respect him, but he never really got that acceptance.
What is also pretty amazing, and being an Oscar De La Hoya fan or not, is that he really has become a very powerful boxing promoter, taking on the likes of Bob Arum and the almighty Don King himself. As a hispanic myself, it's pretty inspiring that a kid from Los Angeles could someday be called one of boxing's top promters, let alone rival Don King.
Overall, American Son is good. It's a very smooth read, very personal story about Oscar De La Hoya. You can tell that when he wrote this book, he really did it with no strings attached.
good book.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Striking Gold, Outside The Squared-Circle, July 7, 2008
The autobiography on "The Golden Boy," who parlayed his pugilistic skills into successful business and philanthropic ventures outside the squared-circle, is an informative and inspiring story on chasing and capturing a slice of the American Dream.
It works because Oscar De La Hoya is candid about every facet of his professional and business careers & personal life, while co-author Steve Springer - through his award-winning reporting in the Los Angeles Times - has literally watched the champ grow up in public.
The legend truly comes to life through De La Hoya's own words and honesty. Though the final chapter in boxing will be "written" later this year, this is an outstanding look into a life that is just starting to get into a top gear.
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