De La Hoya to retire?

LAS VEGAS – If Oscar De La Hoya had dodged Manny Pacquiao’s punches as well as he deflected questions about his future on Friday, the next step in the Golden Boy’s boxing career wouldn’t be in doubt.

De La Hoya will announce whether he’ll fight again on Tuesday at a news conference in Los Angeles at Staples Center, where a statue of him stands watch outside.

During a lengthy chat on the day before his promotions company stages Winky Wright’s middleweight non-title fight with Paul Williams, De La Hoya insisted he has firmly made up his mind about his future. Yet American boxing’s most popular fighter was still thinking about both courses of action, with compelling arguments both for retiring and for staying in the ring.   (AP)