Oscar De La Hoya Staying Quiet On The Big Decision
By Mark Vester
Former six division champion Oscar De La Hoya is keeping quiet on the big decision that he plans to announce during a press conference on April 14 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. De La Hoya will either announce his retirement or a future date for a final return to the ring. One thing is for sure, De La Hoya's decision will be his own, and not based on how his wife or anyone else feels.
"My decision is solely based on how I feel, not on how Richard (Schaefer) feels, and not on how my wife feels," De La Hoya said to the Associated Press . "I've had input from tons of people. Obviously I'm going to pay more attention to people who are closest to me, but I literally was asking people in the street: 'Should I retire or should I continue? Enjoy your family.' That was my No. 1 response from most people."
Some feel De La Hoya has continued his career for the last few years to keep his promotional company on top. He says that is no longer the case and the company can run on it's own.
"There's no pressure whatsoever," De La Hoya said. "Golden Boy Promotions is a machine on its own. It's a company that is paving the way towards the future of the sport, and we don't need the Hopkinses or the Mosleys or the De La Hoyas to rely on."
While De La Hoya sounds like a man who is ready to retire, he also gives hints of a final fight at junior middleweight.
"If I'm weighing 154 up in that ring, I can be a beast," De La Hoya said. "I'm not trying to be 152. I'm eating great. I just lost a lot of muscle mass. Something went wrong (against Manny Pacquiao)."
"If I did decide to retire, I'm content with my career," De La Hoya said. "I'm content with what I've accomplished. As an athlete who's very competitive, you always want more, but in the back of your mind you start thinking about all the wins and what you've accomplished for the sport. That's what makes it so difficult. You think, 'I can still do this."'
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