BBC SPORT | BOXING | De la Hoya decides to fight on

Oscar de la Hoya tells BBC Sport Online's James Blears that he is no longer retiring.

Boxing superstar Oscar de la Hoya has announced he won't be retiring after his next fight against Fernando Vargas.

De la Hoya, who has won world titles in five separate weight divisions, announced his change of heart at an award ceremony in Mexico City.

The WBC super welterweight champion had said he would retire after fighting Vargas on 4 May in Las Vegas.

Even in other fights I haven't been focused. They are great fighters, the beat me. I just want revenge

Oscar de la Hoya

But after speaking with his wife and family he has decided to aim for re-matches with the only two men who have defeated him - Felix Trinidad and Sugar Shane Mosley.

After that he wants to fight Bernard Hopkins for the middleweight championship and finish his career with titles at six weights - a feat which has never been achieved.

De la Hoya was speaking after being presented with an Aztec warrior statue to recognise his outstanding comeback in 2001.

He said: "Fighting Shane Mosley and Felix Trinidad is something very personal.

"Fighting Bernard Hopkins at 160 pounds, would be my ideal retirement plan. Retire as a champion, making history."

De la Hoya - now back with Promoter Bob Arum - is concentrating solely on his boxing after conceding that his music career and businesses were distractions.

Fernando Vargas
Vargas has managed to rile De la Hoya
He explained: "When you are an elite fighter you have to be focused 100%, and I have to admit, I was not focused when I fought against Trinidad or Mosley.

"Even in other fights I haven't been focused. They are great fighters, they beat me. I just want revenge.

"It did crush me for a while. But I learned.

"I think I can become bigger and better by learning from those mistakes and becoming a better champion."

First de la Hoya must fight Vargas - a man for whom he has little time - for the WBA title.

"Fernando Vargas has always been talking really bad about me, and this fight is something very personal," he said.

"I was never going to give him the opportunity to fight me. But he got under my skin and I want to prove, especially to him that I can beat him."

You have to be smart and I've been doing that for the last eight years - so if I retire now I can live happily

Oscar de la Hoya

If de la Hoya beats Vargas then making history is the final aim of his career.

He added: "Fighting Bernard Hopkins for the middleweight title would make my career.

"Boxing is a very tough game to leave because there are always new opponents coming along in the rankings.

"But I have already set my goals, and to retire in two years and then it's over.

"You have to be smart, and fortunately I've been doing that for the last eight years of my professional career.

"So if I retire now I can live happily."


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