Boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya has announced his retirement from boxing.
“I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s over” De La Hoya told a press conference in Los Angeles today. “This is the love of my life, boxing is my passion, boxing is what I was born to do…When I can’t do it anymore, when I can’t compete at the highest level, it’s not fair. It’s not fair to me, it’s not fair to the fans, it’s not fair to nobody.”
De Lay Hoya credited his wife Millie Corretjer and business partner Richard Schaefer in helping him “realize what life is all about” when making the decision to retire.
Sadly his retirement comes after years of diminishing form for De La Hoya. In his last bout four months ago he was beaten by Manny Pacquiao, his fourth loss in seven bouts. He won his last world title in 2006.
His record includes defeating 17 world champions and winning 10 world titles in six different weight classes. De La Hoya’s amateur career included 223 wins, 163 by knockout, with only 6 losses, and a boxing gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics. He’s also credited as having generated more money than any other boxer in the history of the sport.
