Golden Boy set to quit
De la Hoya wants one more fight before retiring
Last updated: 12th June 2008
Ricky Hatton looks to have missed out on another of his top targets after Oscar de la Hoya announced he is set for one more fight before retiring.
Hatton was offered the chance of a showdown with de la Hoya in September after the Golden Boy's original opponent Floyd Mayweather announced his own retirement.
However, having only just fought Juan Lazcano, Hatton turned down the proposed contest.
Now, de la Hoya is looking at facing either the winner of the WBA welterweight clash between Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito or a super-fight with Manny Pacquiao.
De la Hoya told Reuters: "One more and that's it. ... This is my final year. I'm doing one fight and hanging up the gloves.
"Manny Pacquiao is calling me out. He can jump up two or three weight classes and challenge me.
"There's an interesting fight happening, Miguel Cotto against (Antonio) Margarito (on July 26), that should be interesting to watch. Maybe I can get the winner. We'll see."
Although Mayweather has announced his shock retirement, de la Hoya remains sceptical about the Pretty Boy's latest decision to quit.
However, if Mayweather is to announce another comeback, then he will have to move quickly.
"The time is running out," said de la Hoya.
"If Mayweather is playing these little games thinking he can catch me at an older age next year, it's not going to happen. It has to happen by this year."
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Comments
Daniel Babalola says...
Well, i think Mayweather shouldnt come out of retirement. Hes the best ever and he shouldnt dent this by calling of retirement because he might get beaten this time because boxing is a sport that produces greats by the day. Oscar, maliglani, calagzhe or whatever they all call themseelves, none could be compared to Floyd in terms of swaga and rep. We would surely miss his big mouth and hellish punches.
Posted 11:34 17th June 2008
Kane Brookes says...
I would like to see Oscar fight the winner of the Cotto - Margarito fight in a welterweight showdown. I think Oscar would prove to be too strong for Hatton as we have seen welterweight is no league for Hatton to be in. I would not like to see Calzaghe fight Pavlik as I am certain the ghost would beat him easily, hes young, too big, too stong. Too much for Joe to handle. Pavlik is no Jeff Lacey hes more like a Gatti whom you can gurantee will bring you entertainment and a big chance of seeing a knock-out.
Posted 21:22 15th June 2008
Shawn Michaels says...
Great boxer, great person! Have a happy retirement Oscar, you deserve it! I saw you dismantle Riccardo Mayorga in 2006, and had the opportunity to talk with you as you wandered round the MGM Grand. There was no superstar glamour surrounding you, you acted just like a normal bloke. All respect to you!!
Posted 17:37 14th June 2008
Antony Beecher says...
Oscars had his day in the sun....and some,he is a legend in and out of the ring. BUT i wouldnt fancy him against Cotto..ODH showed against PBF and Forbes that he can no longer sustain an attack over a period of time and Cotto would wear him down,Hatton would be a better fight just a shame Ricky doesnt want it at the moment....i wont pay to watch hatton take on mugs like a shot Lazcano or an over hyped Mallignaggi .147 has proved to be an unhappy hunting ground for the hitman so maybe its the right decision . Calzaghe should face Roy Jones Jnr for a mega pay day he deserves it but i think his italian pride will take over and he will show his balls again to fight Pavlik which is a shame as i like the ghost and i wouldnt want to see him hurt too badly ...what happend to the last undefeated yank with big knockout punches ? what was his name again? oh well i guess the yanks will never learn let Pavlik get schooled by Joe and see what excuses they come up with afterwards like they did with LEFT HOOK LACY.
Posted 23:39 13th June 2008
Mikey Nkemdilim says...
I think Oscar De La Hoya should of retired a long time ago & put all his focus into his "Golden Boy Promotions". Oscar Fighting Manny Pacquio is absurd. I'm really upset that Floyd Mayweather has retired, i hope that Oscar fights Miguel Cotto, so that Cotto can give Oscar a real beating!
Posted 20:01 13th June 2008
Ozman Mirza says...
Nothing but respect for Oscar De La Hoya, he has been fighting for years an unlike most fighters has always looked to take on the best and when he has run out of opponents he has moved weight to take on the best in other divisions, I think he is the only one who has the beating of Mayweather, Cotto is strong and relentless but I think Mayweather is slick enough to get through it, De La Hoya would eat Hatton for breakfast, Pavlik will be a tough opponent but either pavlik or cotto, they would be the fights for De La Hoya if Mayweather doesn't want to carry on, Mayweather I feel will do himself an injustice to not come back to convincingly beat de lay hoya as many thought de la hoya won that fight, he will look like he didn't take the chance and decided to quit rather then fight de la hoya, we are talking a few months down the line, what differnce would a few more months make, i think mayweather knows he could be in trouble against Oscar.
Posted 10:00 13th June 2008
Jason Clegg says...
I honestly cannot see Hatton K.O.ing Malignaggi. Cotto hit him with everything and smashed him up but couldn't stop him. I think Ricky can win the fight, but it will be points. Cotto V De La Hoya will be a great fight. Again I think that would be Cotto on points. Only Bernard Hopkins has ever stopped De La Hoya and that was with a long body shot. Cotto fights in close so his body shots are less effective. I don't think Mayweather will return he has nothing more to prove, but obviously would love to see him return and finally get beat!!! Hatton V Maquiao would be a great final fight for the Hitman.
Posted 09:07 13th June 2008
Faiz Alidina says...
I respect Oscar, he has had a stellar career and has never ducked anyone. However, I think his time to call it quits has definitely arrived. He hasn't done anything of note in recent fights to warrant a shot at the Cotto-Margarito winner, that shot belongs to Paul Williams who won back the WBO title on the weekend. Oscar is a nice enough guy, a shrewd businessman and a definite first ballot hall of famer but any real boxing fan will tell you he has long been out of their P4P list and he should just bow out gracefully.
Posted 01:55 13th June 2008
Gian Singh says...
Pacquiao jumping to welterweight is a joke and hes way too small for Oscar, as is Ricky Hatton. The only fight that makes sense is Cotto and that would be a war that i have Cotto edging.
Posted 16:00 12th June 2008
Justin Bond says...
Oscar is a legend, world champion at 6 different weights....that will never be repeated. The result against Sturm was a little bit dodgy but you can't take anything away from him, he has consistently fought the best fighters in the world. Chavez, Trinidad, Vargas, Mosley, Mayweather and Hopkins to name a few he has taken on. I hope he does get Mayweather for the last one, that would be a fitting end to a sensational career.
Posted 15:09 12th June 2008
Simon Hirst says...
In regards to Richard Allen's comments, its because he wants to go out on a win. he wouldnt beat Pavlik and would more than likely be too much for teh hitman and pacman. I personally think Cotto and Margarito would knock him out. Let's also hope Ricky hatton beats Malignaggi, then fights Pacman, that would be a superfight!!!
Posted 14:33 12th June 2008
Wayne Mccann says...
What a great shame for boxing that mayweather retired as this fight woud of been one of the alltime best. My prediction would have been a Da la Hoya win as i believe he edged the 1st fight over Floyd. Mayweather may be playing mind games to get more money out of Oscar, but i dont think this is the case. Ricky Hatton vs Oscar Da la Hoya would i my opinion br a nothing fight staged to get money from fight fans. Hatton has no reason to fight Oscar and should go after Malignaggi who he will knock out. Then Maybe Hatton vs Cotto as a final fight. What a shame Hatton vs Mayweather wont happen as what a spectacle for British Boxing that would have been if staged in this country. As for Oscar the only fight for him was Mayweather. He should retire as the legend he is and not do a Holyfield/Hopkins and carry on for the sake of making more money than you could ever spend.
Posted 13:08 12th June 2008
Richard Allen says...
WHAT A CREDIT TO THE SPORT.i THINK HE NEEDS TO LEAVE THE LITTLE MEN ALONE THOUGH,PACQUIAO AND HATTON ALL TO SMALL REALY WHY NOT GO FOR PAVIC THAT WOULD BE A MORE EVEN FIGHT?
Posted 12:32 12th June 2008
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