DLH Retires!

[DG.]

Ten time world champion in six weight divisions and future boxing hall of famer, “Golden Boy” Oscar de la Hoya announced his retirement at a press conference moments ago in Los Angeles. Oscar stated “it’s over inside the ring for me,” he said. “I’m announcing my retirement….when I can’t compete at my highest level, it’s not fair to me or my fans.” The ultra-popular 36-year-old ends with a record of 39-6, 30 KOs, and is the highest grossing fighter in boxing history. His fight against Floyd Mayweather is the highest grossing boxing match of all time.


Yes, DG brings it once again!

Ungrateful gits.

[Rocky Balboa]

I thought Oscar would retire! After losing to Pacquiao, De La Hoya stated he did not physically respond the way his mind wanted his body to. When that happens, I think its time to call it a day!

No doubt Oscar is a highly competitive person & I'm sure he might even get the urge now & again about thoughts regarding a comeback, but I do not believe he will come back! Oscar knows his time inside the ropes are over.

GPB are fast becoming the biggest promotional organisation in Boxing, if not already. They have many fighters on their books & Oscar has plenty to keep him busy with those fighters breaking through!

He made a ridiculous amount of money, is married to Millie, they have children & everything appears to be rosey for Oscar & his family. Now its time for him to spend quality time with them! I'm sure his wife will be happy he has now finally retired!

Just because Oscar lost to Manny does not actually mean everyone will remember him for that loss. One loss cannot cancel out all the achievements of what Oscar accomplished during his career!

[gobbles]

He'll be back!

[DG.]

He'll be back!

Then here really will get knocked out!

[metropol]

I think this is the right decision . it is a big blow to the sport of boxing imo
On a side point who do you think will fill the void as the "biggest name" in the sport or will anyone stand out ?

[TerribleTerry]

If Hatton wins on May 2nd this will be one of the shortest lived retirements ever...

[metropol]

If Hatton wins on May 2nd this will be one of the shortest lived retirements ever...

How sure are you of that ? Dlh would lose that fight imo. So whats in it for him ? He dosent need the money

[DG.]

If Hatton wins on May 2nd this will be one of the shortest lived retirements ever...

How sure are you of that ? Dlh would lose that fight imo. So whats in it for him ? He dosent need the money

He would never say no to another $50M, would you?

[TerribleTerry]

If Hatton wins on May 2nd this will be one of the shortest lived retirements ever...

How sure are you of that ? Dlh would lose that fight imo. So whats in it for him ? He dosent need the money

Its not about the money when you reach the level DLH has - he was financially secure many years ago..

His ego will smart about going out on a loss; this would be lessened if he could fight and beat the man who beat him.

He will view Hatton as a smaller, less powerful pressure fighter - the sort of fighter he has loved fighting his whole career.

I am not saying it is nailed on guaranteed he would come out of retirement if Hatton won, but I am sure he would be sorely tempted.

[DG.]

He will be back...

He is not fussed about winning or losing - his ego is money..

His ego did not get him up off the floor against B-Hop!
His ego did not gt him off his stool against Pac.
His ego did not make him fight Winky..
His ego did not make him fight Vargas until Vargas was shot

DLH is one of the most disingenious fake cheesy grinned people out there..

He loves the cash, he will be back if there is big big easy money, all just my opinion!

[Cannibal]

I guess that means Chavez Jr will be lining up a fight with Duddy then.

[Matt W]

He will be back...

He is not fussed about winning or losing - his ego is money..

His ego did not get him up off the floor against B-Hop!
His ego did not gt him off his stool against Pac.
His ego did not make him fight Winky..
His ego did not make him fight Vargas until Vargas was shot

DLH is one of the most disingenious fake cheesy grinned people out there..

He loves the cash, he will be back if there is big big easy money, all just my opinion!

That's a very loose definition of shot, he'd lost 1 fight ffs!!!!

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

Suprised he's retired without going for 1 last swansong win, something easily achievable while marketable like Chavez Jr, maybe he'll be back, 154 is clearly his weight

[chinny]

That's a very loose definition of shot, he'd lost 1 fight ffs!!!!

And Vargas was roided up too wasn't he?

[jamesmcdonnell]

Fair play - made the right decision I think, he looked truly awful against Pacman.

His performance against Mayweather showed how good he was, he ran Floyd very close, and also earned his respect.

Has been a great ambassador for the sport, and his fight against Mosley (1) was sheer class.

[teddy007]

ODLH has been great for boxing inside the ropes and will be equally great for boxing outside the ropes. RESPECT

[DG.]

He will be back...

He is not fussed about winning or losing - his ego is money..

His ego did not get him up off the floor against B-Hop!
His ego did not gt him off his stool against Pac.
His ego did not make him fight Winky..
His ego did not make him fight Vargas until Vargas was shot

DLH is one of the most disingenious fake cheesy grinned people out there..

He loves the cash, he will be back if there is big big easy money, all just my opinion!

That's a very loose definition of shot, he'd lost 1 fight ffs!!!!

He may have lost one fight but its thedamage that one fight did to him. He was shaken almost everyting he was hit after the Trinidad fight.

Its the truth....

[chinny]

I wonder how much he actually does apart from smile for GBP. Anyone know?

Clearly Schaefer is the driving force. With ODLH retired, what will he actually do?

[DG.]

I wonder how much he actually does apart from smile for GBP. Anyone know?

That's just about it.

[DG.]

By Francisco Salazar

Ten time world champion in six weight divisions and future boxing hall of famer, “Golden Boy” Oscar de la Hoya announced his retirement at a press conference moments ago in Los Angeles. A very emotional Oscar stated, “These last four months have been very difficult for me. I’m announcing my retirement. I’ve been doing this since I was five years old. Boxing is the love of my life, boxing is my passion, boxing is what I was born to do. When I can’t compete, it’s not fair to me and it’s not fair to my fans. I’ve come to the conclusion it’s over inside the ring for me. My decision is based on a lot. Now I understand why athletes have a hard time. My life will continue to help the sport grow.” The ultra-popular 36-year-old ends with a record of 39-6, 30 KOs, and he is the highest grossing fighter in boxing history. His fight against Floyd Mayweather is the highest grossing boxing match of all time. Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer stated that a special tribute to Oscar’s career will take place on September 19.

Golden Boy Promotions Press Release

Famed boxing champion and future Hall of Fame fighter Oscar de la Hoya, one of the most decorated pugilist in the history of the sport, retired as a professional today during a noon press conference in Nokia Plaza LA Live in downtown Los Angeles.

“After heartfelt discussions with my family and my closest friends, it is with deep gratitude and appreciation that I announce my retirement from professional boxing,” said De La Hoya, who retires from the ring with a 39-6, 30 KOs record. “Boxing has been the single, most consistent part of my life and although I will miss the ring, I know that it is time for me to step away from the sport competitively and become more active in the other aspects of it that are already in place and ready for me to pursue.”

“My career has been nothing short of magical and I am forever grateful to all of the people who made it possible,” continued De La Hoya. “Most importantly I deeply appreciate all of my fans who showered me with their cheers and support, consistently holding me up throughout my 17-year professional career. I believe the true meaning of my career was not in the winning or losing, but in the gift of sharing my fights with all of them, as I never imagined it would mean so much to so many. It has been an honor to fight all of my fights for each and every one of you.”

De La Hoya will now take an even more substantial role in Golden Boy Promotions, working alongside the company’s CEO Richard Schaefer to continue to deliver quality boxing events around the world.

“This is truly a bittersweet day for boxing and its fans throughout the world as Oscar’s name has been synonymous with the sport for nearly two decades,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO Golden Boy Promotions. “It is been a privilege and honor for me to work with this amazing champion and watch the brilliance of his career both in and out of the ring. As one of my closest friends, both personally and professionally, I look forward to working with Oscar as he takes a more active role in Golden Boy Promotions now that he is no longer competing in the sport.”

Originally from East Los Angeles, where as a young child he laced up a pair of boxing gloves for the first time at four years old, he began his amateur career several years later and started dreaming of professional success. The 10-time world champion, who collected titles in six different weight divisions, has long been considered the most influential fighter of the sports modern era.

“Oscar de la Hoya has left an indelible legacy in and out of the ring,” Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said. “This son of East L.A. has made the City of Angels proud, not only for his ten championships in six weight divisions, but for never forgetting his roots and giving back to his community.”

Having turned professional immediately following his 1992 Olympic gold medal victory in Barcelona, Spain, De La Hoya immediately turned in to a box office success. His popularity and following made him the highest grossing non-heavyweight fighter the history of the sport. Participating in 19 pay-per-view fights, De La Hoya drew over 14.1 million pay-per-view buys and over $696 million dollars in pay-per-view revenue throughout his career. He appeared in three of the top eight highest grossing pay-per-view boxing events including the granddaddy of them all - hissuper-fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in May 2007, which shattered the all-time pay-per-view record with 2.4 million homes in addition to generating a record-setting live gate of $19 million. It was the first pay-per-view fight to be purchased by over two million homes.

“Oscar de la Hoya has fashioned a storybook career through hard work, dedication, talent and the commitment to fighting the best fighters in the biggest fights,” said Ross Greenburg, President of HBO Sports. “HBO has had the privilege of televising his fights since 1993 and we watched him develop into a champion and a gracious ambassador for the sport.”

“The Golden Boy’s” Hall of Fame-bound career has seen him win 10 world championships in every division from 130 to 160 pounds while facing the elite of the sport including Floyd Mayweather Jr., Julio Cesar Chavez, Bernard Hopkins, Shane Mosley, Felix Trinidad, Pernell Whitaker, Ike Quartey, Fernando Vargas, Arturo Gatti, Genaro Hernandez, Jesse James Leija and Hector Camacho Sr. Along the way, De La Hoya has become boxing’s undisputed superstar and his acclaimed career and popularity will be remembered for decades to come.

“I marvel at my son’s success and know that all of the hard work and dedication he had when he was a kid and during the formative years of his boxing training made him the champion he became,” said Joel De La Hoya Sr. “I am extremely proud of my son and know he has achieved everything possible in the ring. It is now time for him to enjoy his family and pursue in earnest all of the other opportunities that await him.”

In addition to his success inside the ring, De La Hoya has made a conscious effort to generously give back to the same community which played such an integral role in making it possible for him to achieve such success. The Oscar de la Hoya Foundation was created in 1995 to bring a better quality of life to the people of East Los Angeles. The foundation provides funding for a number of projects including the Cecilia Gonzalez de la Hoya Cancer Center, the Oscar de la Hoya Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit and the Oscar de la Hoya Labor and Delivery Center, all located at the White Memorial Medical Center in East Los Angeles. In addition to his efforts to support medical care for citizens of East Los Angeles, De La Hoya’s dedication to education in the East Los Angeles area led him to establish the Oscar de la Hoya Animo Charter High School in 2003 which now serves over 500 students in grades nine through twelve and is ranked among the top 10 percent of schools in the state of California that serve similar communities. US News and World Report ranked the Oscar de la Hoya Animo Charter High School #53 out of the top 100 in the entire nation.

Most importantly De La Hoya will now have more time to spend with his wife Millie and children.

“In closing, I want to acknowledge my wonderful wife Millie, my children and my entire family who have been extremely supportive and patient with me, sacrificing a tremendous amount of our time together in order for me to pursue my career,” said De La Hoya. “Now it is time for me to be there for them.”

[stujones]

Fair play - made the right decision I think, he looked truly awful against Pacman.

His performance against Mayweather showed how good he was, he ran Floyd very close, and also earned his respect.

Has been a great ambassador for the sport, and his fight against Mosley (1) was sheer class.

I am sure those in the press who condemmed the Pacquiao fight, said he "quit", and suggested he would still be first in line for a big money stadium fight with Hatton (even after his loss to Pacquaio) - or maybe even fight Ivan Calderon at 154, - as it is all about the "even" and the $$$$$ for DLH - will not say - "ah well, got that wrong about him".

[tonyevs]

I fail to see where your resentment towards ODLH comes from DG??

Look at his record and you`ll see alot more top fighters he fought than probably the majority of Hall of famers.

As soon as a little over 6mths into his pro career he was demolishing former world champions and within 3yrs fighting a whos who of the top guys about at that time ... and continued to do so for almost the next 10yrs .. name me another fighter whos done the same or similar?

[jamesmcdonnell]

I fail to see where your resentment towards ODLH comes from DG??

Look at his record and you`ll see alot more top fighters he fought than probably the majority of Hall of famers.

As soon as a little over 6mths into his pro career he was demolishing former world champions and within 3yrs fighting a whos who of the top guys about at that time ... and continued to do so for almost the next 10yrs .. name me another fighter whos done the same or similar?

I think the knock on Oscar is that he often had the odds stacked in his favour, and there was the shennanigans with the scales which went on for years which gave him an unfair advantage reputedly.

However, when you look at his performance against the like of Yory Boy Campas - who he absolutely demolished, or against a prime Shane Mosley, who he only JUST lost to in an absolutely thrilling fight, not to mention his meteoric rise up the ranks as a novice pro - then it's hard to criticise the man.

His later career was a bit patchy, partly because of inactivity, and also because at very top level he was beatable, but where's the shame in that.

I still say a year or two earlier and I think he had the beating of Mayweather at 147 or above. He had just lost a step and couldn't keep his jab going long enough to keep winning rounds.

I think Oscar has had a fabulous career - and should be lauded for bringing back some dignity and glamour back to a sport which was in dire need of it.

[Loynesy]

I fail to see where your resentment towards ODLH comes from DG??

Look at his record and you`ll see alot more top fighters he fought than probably the majority of Hall of famers.

As soon as a little over 6mths into his pro career he was demolishing former world champions and within 3yrs fighting a whos who of the top guys about at that time ... and continued to do so for almost the next 10yrs .. name me another fighter whos done the same or similar?

I think the knock on Oscar is that he often had the odds stacked in his favour, and there was the shennanigans with the scales which went on for years which gave him an unfair advantage reputedly.

However, when you look at his performance against the like of Yory Boy Campas - who he absolutely demolished, or against a prime Shane Mosley, who he only JUST lost to in an absolutely thrilling fight, not to mention his meteoric rise up the ranks as a novice pro - then it's hard to criticise the man.

His later career was a bit patchy, partly because of inactivity, and also because at very top level he was beatable, but where's the shame in that.

I still say a year or two earlier and I think he had the beating of Mayweather at 147 or above. He had just lost a step and couldn't keep his jab going long enough to keep winning rounds.

I think Oscar has had a fabulous career - and should be lauded for bringing back some dignity and glamour back to a sport which was in dire need of it.

Agreed James.

Thoose who criticise Oscar tend to make themselves look a bit daft. Where would the sport have been without him?

[metropol]

What were the alleged shenanigans withe the scales?