By Mark Vester

Now that Antonio Margarito has dethroned WBA welterweight champion Miguel Cotto, stopping him in the eleventh-round of a classic as the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Oscar De La Hoya's options for a career-ending battle on December 6 have dwindled down even further.

Prior to the fight, the leading frontrunners to land De La Hoya were Cotto and WBC lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao. Pacquiao is going to discuss a deal with Arum this weekend. According to the Manila Bulletin, an unconfirmed offer of $10 million was made to Pacquiao, with a pay-per-view upside to make it a $15 million dollar payday. The fight would take place at a catch-weight of 147-pounds.

Promoter Bob Arum recently told the LA Times that De La Hoya told him that under no circumstances was he going to consider a fight Margarito if the Mexican champion pulled out the win over Cotto. De La Hoya told Arum that he does not want to chance the Mexican people turning on him.

"If Margarito wins, Oscar won't fight him," Arum says. "He won't fight another Mexican in his last fight. I tested him on that. I asked about Chavez Jr,, which would be his easiest test. He said no. The Mexicans would hate him."

With the unexpected retirement of Floyd Mayweather Jr., Felix Trinidad's stance on not fighting below 164-pounds, and the recent knockout of Cotto, De La Hoya has been given some very tough blows to his list of potential opponents. 

Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, told the LA Times that a deal for De La Hoya's next fight will be made in less than ten-days.

Send News Tips and Comments To Mark Vester @ boxingscene@hotmail.com