Boxer Oscar De La Hoya announces his retirement

Oscar de La Hoya has announced his retirement as a boxer, admitting he could no longer fight at the highest level. The 36-year-old former Olympic gold medalist revealed his decision to quit with a 39-6 (30 KOs) professional record, four months after being outclassed by Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas. From a platform outside the Staples Centre in his native Los Angeles, and where a bronze statue of the boxer known as 'the Golden Boy' stands, De La Hoya told fans and reporters of his decision to move his career out of the ring and concentrate solely on his promotional and business life. He said: "I'm announcing my retirement because I've been doing this since I was five years old and this is the love of my life. "Boxing is my passion, boxing is what I was born to do and when I can't do it anymore, when I can't compete at the highest level, it's not fair. "It's not fair to me, it's not fair to the fans, it's not fair to nobody." He added: "I've come to the conclusion that it's over. It's over inside the ring for me." De La Hoya, who won ten world titles across six weight divisions after turning professional following his Olympic success for Team USA in Barcelona in 1992, said he had thought long and hard before reaching his decision to quit. He continued: "Now I understand why athletes have such a tough time retiring from something that you feel so passionate about, from your sport that you're always thinking you can try one more time. "But this decision was based on making sure, first of all, that I do not disappoint anyone when I step inside the ring; that I do not disappoint myself and I make sure that I can watch my kids grow up; that I can make sure that I have a life where I can continue to be involved and help the sport of boxing." De La Hoya is an active boxing promoter through his Golden Boy Promotions company, and will be in Las Vegas on May 2 to co-promote Ricky Hatton's light welterweight showdown with his own nemesis Pacquiao.

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ITN | April 15, 2009

Tags:. .UK News. .medalist. .outclassed. .hoya. .staples