By Mark Vester

Oscar De La Hoya was recently asked point-blank on why he decided to go with WBC lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao, instead of WBA welterweight champ Antonio Margarito - as the opponent on December 6 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Margarito has wanted a fight with De La Hoya for some time and his call for such a fight began to heat up after he knocked out Miguel Cotto within eleven-rounds last month in Las Vegas. During the pre-fight festivities, De La Hoya said he would love to end his career by fighting the winner of Cotto-Margarito. He was banking on Cotto to win. Margarito spoiled those plans and De La Hoya would later issue a variety of reasons as to why he would not accept the fight.

De La Hoya says he is not scared of Margarito, but Pacquiao is the fight that would make the biggest impact and let's not forget - it's personal.

"I've always said it, Margarito is one of the best and it would be incredible to fight him," De La Hoya told ESTO. "During my career, I've avoided nobody and fought the best fighters. This time my desire is to fight Manny for two reasons. He beat various Mexican fighters and I want to avenge them, and the other is that people are calling him the best pound-for-pound fighter at the moment. I want a big fight to make an impact and also to satisfy my people." 

When asked if this would be the final fight of his career, De La Hoya once again left the door open for more action in the future.

"This doesn't mean that it's my last fight. My dream is to someday fight in Mexico, at the Azteca Stadium. I would have liked to have fought there on December 6, but I couldn't. Later on I hope to be able to," De La Hoya said.

"I feel well, but my body asks me to hang up the gloves when I train hard - my body hurts. Boxing has given me everything, I will always be in debt to the sport. As a promoter, we are going to open doors to young Mexicans who strive to be world champions like Juan Manuel Marquez."  

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