By April MacIntyre Apr 15, 2009, 5:00 GMT
The Golden Boy has stepped out of the ring.
US boxer Oscar De La Hoya and US actor and former boxer Mickey Rourke after a news conference announcing De La Hoya retirement from boxing outside Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, USA, 14 April 2009. EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT
East Los Angeles boxer Oscar De La Hoya, an Olympic gold-medal winner in 1992 announced his retirement Tuesday.
"I'm announcing my retirement. . . . When I can't compete at my highest level, it's not fair -- to me, [or] my fans," De La Hoya, 36, said a news conference outside downtown's L.A. Live complex.
"Knowing that you're never going to compete again is a tough decision, but now I am looking forward to the future of boxing. When I cannot compete at this level, I have come to the conclusion that it is over."It was the December beating from Filipino Manny Pacquiao, a fighter who is soon to face Manchester, England's "Hitman" Ricky Hatton, that many are saying sealed the deal for his bow out.
De La Hoya lost two of his last three fights: a split-decision defeat to the unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. in May of 2007 which netted the biggest gross for the fighter.
De La Hoya's 1992 Olympics performance in Barcelona was punctuated by his emotional promise made to his cancer stricken mother, Cecelia, two years earlier to bring a gold medal back from the Summer Games.
De La Hoya was a stylized southpaw who perfected a right-handed stance, which made his left hook legendary.
Good looks combined with his language skills made him the love of Mexican-Americans and the scourge of Mexican nationals who lobbed many foes his way, like Julio Cesar Chavez, to claim the title of top Mexican champion.
De La Hoya finished 8-6 in his final 14 fights.
Despite the tidal wave of MMA and UFC fight popularity, De La Hoya is credited with the successful promoting of boxing and appealing to a diverse cross-section of people.
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