07.06.08 – by James Slater: Floyd Mayweather Junior, in his official press release to the media in which he announced his retirement, spoke of having a heavy heart as he made his news public. Oscar De La Hoya, who was supposed to fight Mayweather in a rematch in September, must also have a pretty heavy heart right now..
Convinced he’d beat “Money” in their scheduled (but not signed) return fight, De La Hoya will now have to face the fact that he will never get the opportunity to prove it. As such, “The Golden Boy” has to be more than a touch shocked and upset at present – best laid plans and all that. And while Mayweather has announced his retirement before, only to fight again within a few months of having made his announcement, it looks as though the 31-year-old means it this time. Therefore the news has come as quite a shock, almost certainly to De La Hoya – a fighter who is usually accustomed to getting what he wants. And what he wanted most of all in his final year in boxing was a second fight with Mayweather, and a chance to go out on top in a farewell to boxing, you’re-going-to-miss-me-now-I’ve-retired, blaze of glory. Now, however, Floyd has somewhat upstaged Oscar.
No longer will 2008 be looked at as the year in which Oscar De La Hoya retired from boxing. 2008 will now be known as the year in which the reigning and undefeated pound-for-pound king, Floyd Mayweather Junior, quit the sport whilst still very much on top of his game. Mayweather had a number of truly exciting and winnable fights out there for him and the current welterweight champion was expected to take at least a couple of them – therefore his decision to quit the game is big news. De La Hoya, on the other hand, is 35 and considered past his best – therefore his retirement is not such a newsworthy story. So, what does De La Hoya do now?
Oscar will more than likely still want to engage in a big fight in September, and probably another one after that in December – the month in which his very last pro fight was being planned for. But who will “The Golden Boy” fight? According to Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy, an announcement will be made next week with regards to Oscar’s next opponent. Until then, however, all we can do is guess. But guessing is fun, and let’s now take a look at who De La Hoya may or may not fight in the remainder of a year that now looks set to say goodbye to two of the sport’s best boxers.
Only this past Wednesday, whilst on ESPN, Winky Wright expressed his desire to face De La Hoya. Could Winky be getting the call? What about Ricky Hatton? Sure, Oscar recently said he’d not fight Hatton as he was too small, but that was before Mayweather retired. Would Hatton be willing to get in there with De La Hoya in September? Stranger things have happened, that’s for sure. Or maybe Oscar will await the winner of the July clash between Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito – and then challenge the winner. September would be too early for July’s eventual winner, but a fight with De La Hoya could happen before the year is out.
Let’s face it, a lot of plans of a lot of people have been seriously affected due to the announcement of the former five weight world champion known as “Money.” Oscar De La Hoya, certainly, will be doing a lot of thinking in the next few days.