By Sanjeev Shetty BBC Sport Online

Watch the fight on Sunday Grandstand
(BBC2, Sun 15 Sept, 1715 BST)

On 14 September, Oscar de la Hoya faces a real fight - many wonder whether he still has the stomach for it.

The Californian has enjoyed a glittering 10-year career, full of prestige and pay-cheques, but not always critical approval.

Now campaigning as a light-middleweight, De la Hoya has spent much of the year debating whether to continue as a boxer or pursue a life away from the ring.

One of the few modern boxing stars to achieve a crossover appeal, De la Hoya has already flirted with a music career and with his good looks, a film career is a possibility.

But at the core of his being is a fighting spirit and much like Sugar Ray Leonard, a golden boy from another era, he has been unable to resist the temptation that boxing provides.

It may be that a man with his ego cannot walk away while there is still unfinished business.

Narrow defeats to Shane Mosley and Felix Trinidad have marred his impressive record and a rematch with the former remains on the cards.

The 29-year-old began his professional career as the owner of an Olympic gold medal and signed a lucrative contract with promoters Top Rank.

In the early days, De la Hoya approached his battles with a warrior's mentality, keen to slug it out with his opponents, confident that his power would overcome them.

Like many fighters, he began at a much lighter weight - super-featherweight - before rising to his current light-middleweight status.

Along the way, he acquired championships at super-feather, lightweight, light-welterweight, welterweight and in his current division.

The likes of Pernell Whitaker, Julio Cesar Chavez, John John Molina and Miguel Angel Gonzalez were vanquished during that same time as de la Hoya established himself as one of the best fighters in the world at any weight.

He also modified his style - the brawling was replaced by a more methodical and clinical approach.

The fact that he changed his trainer more often than David Beckham changes his hair probably contributed.

Emanuel Steward was just one of the men to work with De la Hoya and the current incumbent in the corner is Floyd Mayweather Snr, who has gained a reputation as a defensive master.

The upcoming fight with Fernando Vargas may see the art of defence thrown to one side - there is a mutual contempt which stems back to the early 1990s.

Vargas contends that De la Hoya disrespected him in a sparring session many years ago.