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Oscar De La Hoya left the hospital with a clean bill of health late Saturday night after taking a brutal beating from Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas. The only problem was a hairline fracture in his left eye socket but it will heal naturally.
Emotionally? That’s more complicated. Of course, a one-sided loss and the prospect of retirement are hard for him to swallow all in one weekend.
“He was telling me that he’s been fighting since he was 5 years old,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions and one of De La Hoya’s closest friends. “He really loves boxing with a passion. It’s always difficult to turn the page on something in life.
“He’ll reflect on everything and let it sink in and then make a decision about his future. I’m sure he’ll make the right decision. He’s a smart guy.”
De La Hoya, who stayed in Las Vegas for a few days to rest, was unavailable for comment.
Immediately after the fight, in the ring, he seemed to indicate that he is finished as a fighter. He went up to Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, and said “I don’t have it anymore.” And to Schaefer, he said, “My heart still wants to fight but my body just won’t let me.”
However, Schaefer said no announcement would be made in the next few days.
“It’s a very personal decision. He can only make an announcement when he’s ready,” Schaefer said.
The night was painful for everyone close to De La Hoya, who had never taken such a beating in his 16-year professional career.
The camp was sky high going into the fight. De La Hoya had dropped down to 147 pounds with little trouble; he seemed to feel good at the weight and was bursting with confidence. His brother, Joel, said during the week that we’d see the De La Hoya of 10 years ago in the ring on Saturday.
The fact he gained only two pounds between Friday’s weigh in and fight night – 145 to 147 – raised speculation that something might be amiss but no one at ringside made too much of it.
Then the opening bell rang and he was lost. Pacquiao seemed to win every minute of every round, ultimately pummeling the 35-year-old 10-time world champion into submission through the eighth and final round.
“After the eighth round, I did something I’ve never done since I’ve been involved in boxing,” Schaefer said. “I stood up, took one of the white rally towels that were on every chair and went over to the corner. I told Joel, and Oscar was right there, ‘Enough is enough.’ (Trainer) Nacho Beristain decided the same thing and stopped the fight.
“It was a painful night for me. I’m sure it was a painful night for millions of Oscar’s fans. He has meant so much to boxing the past 16 years. The good news is that he’s built one of the biggest promotional firms in the world; he’ll have his hands full with that.”
Schaefer wouldn’t even begin to speculate on exactly what went wrong for De La Hoya, beyond Pacquiao’s brilliance. Maybe it was age. Maybe the weight was an issue. All he knew for sure was that he was shocked.
“All the boxing experts, the promoters, the matchmakers, the writers, all the boxing insiders thought Oscar was going to blow out Pacquiao because of the size difference,” he said. “So, yes, everyone was taken by surprise. It was the same when Bernard Hopkins beat Kelly Pavlik (in October). No one game Bernard a chance.
“I guess that’s what makes boxing so interesting. It’s so hard to predict.”
De La Hoya might take some comfort in the fact he’s not alone in terms of boxing history.
Countless champions, including some of the best fighters ever, have ended their careers on such notes. Joe Louis against Rocky Marciano. Muhammad Ali against Trevor Berbick. Sugar Ray Leonard against Hector Camacho. The list goes on.
Precious few leave the sport on a positive note.
“And there’s nothing wrong with that,” television analyst Larry Merchant said. “Boxing is kind of a metaphor for life. You have birth, youth, adolescence, maturity, middle age, old age and then you die.
“I see nothing wrong with dying with your boots on. The king is dead, long live the king. The passing of the torch. That’s boxing.”
Emotionally? That’s more complicated. Of course, a one-sided loss and the prospect of retirement are hard for him to swallow all in one weekend.
“He was telling me that he’s been fighting since he was 5 years old,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions and one of De La Hoya’s closest friends. “He really loves boxing with a passion. It’s always difficult to turn the page on something in life.
“He’ll reflect on everything and let it sink in and then make a decision about his future. I’m sure he’ll make the right decision. He’s a smart guy.”
De La Hoya, who stayed in Las Vegas for a few days to rest, was unavailable for comment.
Immediately after the fight, in the ring, he seemed to indicate that he is finished as a fighter. He went up to Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, and said “I don’t have it anymore.” And to Schaefer, he said, “My heart still wants to fight but my body just won’t let me.”
However, Schaefer said no announcement would be made in the next few days.
“It’s a very personal decision. He can only make an announcement when he’s ready,” Schaefer said.
The night was painful for everyone close to De La Hoya, who had never taken such a beating in his 16-year professional career.
The camp was sky high going into the fight. De La Hoya had dropped down to 147 pounds with little trouble; he seemed to feel good at the weight and was bursting with confidence. His brother, Joel, said during the week that we’d see the De La Hoya of 10 years ago in the ring on Saturday.
The fact he gained only two pounds between Friday’s weigh in and fight night – 145 to 147 – raised speculation that something might be amiss but no one at ringside made too much of it.
Then the opening bell rang and he was lost. Pacquiao seemed to win every minute of every round, ultimately pummeling the 35-year-old 10-time world champion into submission through the eighth and final round.
“After the eighth round, I did something I’ve never done since I’ve been involved in boxing,” Schaefer said. “I stood up, took one of the white rally towels that were on every chair and went over to the corner. I told Joel, and Oscar was right there, ‘Enough is enough.’ (Trainer) Nacho Beristain decided the same thing and stopped the fight.
“It was a painful night for me. I’m sure it was a painful night for millions of Oscar’s fans. He has meant so much to boxing the past 16 years. The good news is that he’s built one of the biggest promotional firms in the world; he’ll have his hands full with that.”
Schaefer wouldn’t even begin to speculate on exactly what went wrong for De La Hoya, beyond Pacquiao’s brilliance. Maybe it was age. Maybe the weight was an issue. All he knew for sure was that he was shocked.
“All the boxing experts, the promoters, the matchmakers, the writers, all the boxing insiders thought Oscar was going to blow out Pacquiao because of the size difference,” he said. “So, yes, everyone was taken by surprise. It was the same when Bernard Hopkins beat Kelly Pavlik (in October). No one game Bernard a chance.
“I guess that’s what makes boxing so interesting. It’s so hard to predict.”
De La Hoya might take some comfort in the fact he’s not alone in terms of boxing history.
Countless champions, including some of the best fighters ever, have ended their careers on such notes. Joe Louis against Rocky Marciano. Muhammad Ali against Trevor Berbick. Sugar Ray Leonard against Hector Camacho. The list goes on.
Precious few leave the sport on a positive note.
“And there’s nothing wrong with that,” television analyst Larry Merchant said. “Boxing is kind of a metaphor for life. You have birth, youth, adolescence, maturity, middle age, old age and then you die.
“I see nothing wrong with dying with your boots on. The king is dead, long live the king. The passing of the torch. That’s boxing.”
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