LOS ANGELES, June 21 – With pay-per-view deadlines for a September bout approaching, ten-time world champion Oscar De La Hoya has decided to postpone a decision regarding his future as an active fighter until a later date. ‘After endless hours of reflecting on my decision, I started to realize more and more that I put myself on tremendous time pressure in order to make the pay-per-view deadline for a September 16th fight. But it’s too soon to make that decision, so I will continue to reflect on this, and I think I deserve to make this decision without any outside pressure.’
‘The Golden Boy’, who is coming off one of the most impressive victories of his career – a sixth round stoppage of Ricardo Mayorga in May – made the announcement this afternoon during a worldwide media teleconference that was attended by a record 120 media members that included representatives from Mexico, Japan, Europe, and the United States. But despite rumors to the contrary, De La Hoya did not announce his retirement from the ring after a stellar pro career that began in 1992.
‘When I announce my retirement, it’s going to be definite…but it’s not this day,’ said De La Hoya. ‘I’m only going to retire once, and that’s it.’
Rumors of various injuries keeping De La Hoya from competing again were also squashed during the teleconference.
‘Injuries will not be a factor in what I decide to do and I will not be making a decision because of injury,” he said. “I’m still training every day – I could actually spar ten rounds tomorrow if I wanted to.’
De La Hoya did state that he will not fight again in 2006, but he admitted that at the present time, ‘I’m leaning towards fighting. This is what I love, and this sport drives me and keeps me alive.’
If he does return, he would hope to be back in May of 2007 for one final bout – against Floyd Mayweather Jr.
‘There will be no fight in September – it’s too soon,’ he said. ‘But if I come back for one more fight, it will be Floyd Mayweather Jr. That’s the only name I can come up with to motivate me to train and prepare for three months. That’s the only fight out there for me.’