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Oscar De La Hoya Announces Retirement from Boxing

By Eric Richardson
Published: Tuesday, April 14, 2009, at 01:45PM

Oscar de la Hoya Retirement Announcement Eric Richardson [Flickr]

Cameras crowd in front of Oscar De La Hoya as he announces his retirement from boxing.

The "Golden Boy," boxer Oscar de la Hoya, announced his retirement today in a press conference held just yards away from the statue in his likeness that stands outside Staples Center.

Joined on stage by his wife Millie, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, his father Joel Sr., AEG CEO Tim Leiweke, and his business partner, Richard Schaefer, de la Hoya said that it was not fair to keep fighting when he could no longer perform at the level he was accustomed to.

De la Hoya ascended to boxing prominence after winning the lightweight gold medal in the 1992 Olympics, but the fighter's connection to this neighborhood runs deep. A Downtown charter school bears his name, and a Wilshire office building houses his Golden Boy Enterprises.

In 2003, the boxer donated money and land to Green Dot Charter Schools to start a high school that serves his home neighborhood in Boyle Heights.

Oscar de la Hoya Animo Charter High School has been located Downtown in the World Trade Center for the last four years, with students bused in from across the river. The school, which was recently honored as a California Distinguished School, is currently building a permanent facility in East L.A. on the land that de la Hoya donated.

In 2004, de la Hoya's bought a controlling interest in the 12-story office building at 626 Wilshire for $16 million. The building now serves as headquarters for the fighter's successful boxing promotion company.

De la Hoya's statue outside Staples Center was unveiled in December of last year. The boxer had one fight inside the facility, a 2000 split-decision loss to Shane Mosley, now a partner in Golden Boy Enterprises.

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Comments

1
Fabricio writes:

What's does Villaraigosa have to do with this?

# on Apr.14.2009 AT 04:02 PM
2
News Review writes:

Although he may have announced his retirement, it is still good to know that he would still be involved in boxing.. He is great boxer and it would be a loss to the boxing industry if he will totally be not involved in the same.. He's still young to retire but we have to respect his decision.. He has reached the peak of his career retiring would not be a bad decision on his part... He has already established his legacy..

# on Apr.14.2009 AT 04:03 PM
3
Eric Richardson writes:

Fabricio: They both grew up in East L.A. and are prominent Latinos. Also present was Mickey Rourke, who has even less of an obvious connection.

# on Apr.14.2009 AT 04:17 PM
4
Oscar writes:

Why would he retire, I think he could make a great career out of being a bobber (is that the right word?), as he proved to be a great one at the last fight with Pacquiao...

# on Apr.15.2009 AT 12:05 PM
5
Marco writes:

Retired or not, Oscar will always be a gay icon.

# on Apr.15.2009 AT 01:53 PM
6
ChattyCAthy writes:

It is so sad that boxing is represented mostly by minorities where they get seduced into a sport that is violent, illegal in any other arena, and causes so much neurological trauma, where dementia, Parkinsons, and Alzeimers will haunt these boxers at an early age because of all the micro brain trauma that occurs with each blow to the head. SO, SO, SAD

# on Apr.16.2009 AT 08:08 AM
7
Cart Before the Horse writes:

There is already some micro brain trauma at play before anyone elects to become a boxer so the progression appears to be a natural one.

Like being a cop.

# on Apr.16.2009 AT 11:07 AM

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