By Mark Vester
During a recent interview with BoxingScene.com's Jose Aguirre, Dmitriy "Star of David" Salita (27-0, 15KOs) said Oscar De La Hoya (38-5, 30KOs) will "pass the torch" if the fighters reach an agreement for a potential bout on May 3.
"Back in the day, when Oscar was fighting (Julio Cesar) Chavez and (Pernell) Whitaker, he would always say that it was a passing of the torch. He's completely in the same situation. I feel that it's going to be a passing of the torch," Salita said. "I don't know the venue of the fight. I don't think it confirmed yet, but I know that Oscar has not fought on the East Coast in a very long time."
"He's extremely popular throughout the whole world and it would tremendous with the fan base that I have here (New York). The event and the excitement that Oscar brings to the table, I think that it has the potential of being a great fight."
Salita is one of three fights in the running for De La Hoya's May return. The other two fighters are IBF junior welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi and Contender star, former champion Steve Forbes. De La Hoya plans to use the May bout as a tune-up for a September rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Salita feels that he deserves the fight more than Forbes and Malignaggi.
"As far as I understand it, Paulie is on row to fight Ricky Hatton. The truth is, both of those guys are admirable challengers. I know Stevie Forbes as well. He's a good guy. I got a chance to box with him when I was 17-years-old at the Top Rank gym," Salita said.
"I feel that I bring a lot to the table because I'm undefeated. I'm actually the only one who's undefeated (ou of the three) and because of all the other intangibles that accompany me. I think that it has the potential to be a great fight at any point of time that it takes (place)."
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