By Mark Vester

In recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, former six-division champion Oscar De La Hoya said that he would not fight WBA welterweight champion Miguel Cotto in 2008.

Several days ago, Top Rank president Bob Arum told El Nuevo Dia that a fight between Cotto and De La Hoya was possible for 2008. Arum also said that in order for the fight to happen, Floyd Mayweather Jr. would have to beat Ricky Hatton on Dec. 8 and Miguel Cotto would obviously have to beat Shane Mosley on Nov. 10.

"It has been discussed, but nothing is written on paper. If Miguel beats Mosley, and Floyd Mayweather wins over Hatton, I believe that Oscar would fight Cotto, but neither have signed or agreed to a fight. It's only been in the talking stages," Arum said.

De La Hoya said that he's not yet convinced his wife Millie (Corretjer) to let him fight again, but told the paper that he "is not retired." De La Hoya's wife, a well-known Puerto Rican singer and actress, told her husband that she does not want him to fight another Puerto Rican. De La Hoya and his family currently live in Puerto Rico.

After his wife has their second child on the expected due date of Dec. 29, De La Hoya anticipates that she will become more open to him fighting again. At the same time, Mayweather-Hatton and Cotto-Mosley will both be completed and his decision for a future opponent will be much clearer.

"I still have one big obstacle to get past," De La Hoya said of his wife. "That's going to be the toughest fight of my life. Cotto is out of the question. My wife is the pearl of Puerto Rico. She has said, 'Don't fight another Puerto Rican.' "

It's no secret and De La Hoya did not deny it, he would love to fight Ricky Hatton in 2008. He's open to a rematch with Mayweather, but would much prefer a fight with Hatton. De La Hoya wants to end his career by competing in exciting fights, and he says a fighter like Hatton will give him the exciting fight he wants. 

"I know there are good arguments on both sides of me retiring, but I want to leave this sport with exciting fights, fights where the fans are looking at the faces of both guys afterward and knowing, 'Those guys were in a heck of a fight.' It's just a matter of talking to the boss (Millie)," De La Hoya told the Times.

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