Oscar De La Hoya Announces Retirement

After struggling for months to make a decision, Oscar De La Hoya has announced that he is ending his career as an active fighter. Most boxing retirements don't count for much (it's entirely possible De La Hoya will change his mind - he's still only 36!) but this one feels like the real thing.

De La Hoya was probably tempted to fight again so he could leave with a win rather than the one-sided beating he took from Manny Pacquiao in December. De La Hoya undoubtedly could have continued to fight and - on the right night, against the right opponent - would still be competitive against world class 154 pounders. Most boxers fight on well beyond their primes because they need the money and have limited options outside the ring. Oscar - to his credit - is definitely not most boxers.

Critics still find fault with his Hall of Fame career and question his legacy. What can't be questioned, however, is that De La Hoya was the rare boxing superstar whose popularity actually transcended the sport of boxing. In the last 40 years, only Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard and Mike Tyson achieved similar crossover stardom. De La Hoya earned more money in the ring than any other fighter in history. He won ten world titles in six different weight divisions. He leaves the ring with his looks and - more importantly - his brains intact. He has lots of business interests to occupy himself with in 'retirement'.

While the sport was very good to him, Oscar De La Hoya was also very good for the sport. He was a class act in both victory and defeat as he faced every significant fighter of his era (anywhere near his own weight class). For his sake, let's hope Oscar De La Hoya is the rare boxer whose retirement actually means he's done fighting.

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