Oscar De La Hoya went into the ring last night at the MGM as boxing’s biggest draw, a guy who could still command $15 million a fight and draw big pay-per-view numbers (of which De La Hoya gets a share of the proceeds and could make another $15 million). When he left the ring, with a bloody and battered face at the hands of Manny Pacquiao, the question was will he ever fight again?
Oscar may finally been hit in the head enough to realize he’s lost it.
Lee Samuels, who was with Pacquiao in the ring afterward, relates De La Hoya went over to Freddie Roach at the conclusion and said, `Freddie, you're right. I don't have it anymore.' De La Hoya certainly didn't against Pacquiao in about as uneven a battle as one could behold.
Boxing is going to miss De La Hoya in the ring, he has been drawing big crowds (and paydays) since 1992. But he’s done as a competent fighter. Let’s hope he walks away gracefully and doesn’t go the route of Mike Tyson or Evander Holyfield.
