World Boxing News 2010-2013

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Oscar De La Hoya was born in Montebello, California in 1973 and is a third generation boxer after his Mexican grandfather and father before him were both fighters in their own right. He started boxing at a young age and had over two hundred amateur fights, losing just a handful on his way to claiming the 1989 National Golden Gloves Bantamweight Title. In 1991, he was voted U.S Amateur boxer of the year and qualified for the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona the following year. He duly returned to the U.S with the Gold medal around his neck, earning himself the nickname “The Golden Boy.” Within two months, Oscar was lined up for his first professional contest and knocked out Lamar Williams with only one minute forty-two seconds on the timekeeper’s clock. He followed up his maiden victory with ten knockouts in his next eleven bouts and in just his 12th fight, most of them being at lightweight, was offered the chance to drop down a weight and fight for his...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘Golden Boy’ tweets on possible comeback Ten-time world champion Oscar De La Hoya has fuelled speculation that he may be ready to come out of retirement after announcing on his Twitter account the he could ‘do some damage to any 54 pounder in the world expect Saul Canelo Alvarez.’ The 39 year-old, who announced his retirement in 2009, has often tweeted about returning to the ring and seems to like to test the water with the fans to gain feedback on a possible comeback. De La Hoya last fought in December 2008 when he went down to one-sided eight round defeat to Manny Pacquiao and has since been linked to a bout with a reinvigorated Ricky Hatton in the UK. The ‘Golden Boy’ also stated that he wants to ‘bring Golden Boy Boxing to the UK’ and will have plenty of tongues wagging once again about a possible catchweight fight with the ‘Hitman’ on his home soil next year.

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘Golden Boy’ happily retired as ‘Hitman’ makes comeback Oscar De La Hoya has wished Ricky Hatton all the best as the former two-weight world champion readies himself to announce his first fight in three years at the MEN Arena on November 24 tomorrow. The ten-time world champion, who was strongly linked to a bout against the Mancunian last year, has announced that will not be temtped to follow Hatton back into the professional ranks as he approaches his 40th birthday. “I wish Ricky all the luck in the world,” De La Hoya told The Daily Mail. “He's still only 33 and who is to say he should not do this. I support him 100 per cent. “I am in fighting shape, but I'm 39 and my body would not take it. Nothing will lure me back into the ring, not even the prospect of fighting Ricky.” A slimmed-down Hatton has reportedly pencilled in a two-fight plan to challenge former foe Paulie Malignaggi for his WBA welterweight title in the summer ...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Failed test costing ‘Havoc’ his titles and reputation Golden Boy President Oscar De La Hoya believes that Lamont Peterson is having to face up to his actions following the WBA’s decision to strip him of the light-welterweight title he took from Amir Khan last year. The Washington fighter’s failed drug-test and admittance to taking steroids in the build-up to his fight with the former title holder could now cost him the IBF version with a judgement expected soon and De La Hoya stated that action needed to be taken. “The judges did get it wrong with the decision in terms of Khan-Peterson,” De La Hoya told mydesert.com. “With Peterson, he did something he shouldn't do in the sport of boxing or any other sport. He got caught and is paying the consequences.” Peterson, 28, could end a difficult year fight-less and without a title as the row and subsequent investigation continues in the positive test, and the American is now seemin...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Ex-champ willing to offer fighters for ‘Desert Storm’ bout Promoter Oscar De La Hoya is ready to give Timothy Bradley his pick of Golden Boy’s top welterweights as the WBO champion’s hopes of a rematch with eight-weight title holder Manny Pacquiao fade. The Golden Boy president has a chequered past with Bradley’s promoter Bob Arum, but hopes to put any differences aside as there could be some tasty looking fights with the likes of Paulie Malignaggi, Robert Guerreo, Devon Alexander and Amir Khan in the offing. “There's a lot of options out there, a lot of great fights,” De La Hoya told mydesert.com . “The only thing Bob Arum and Top Rank has to do is pick up the phone and call. “We have all the fighters, we have all the opponents, we have all the big fights people want to see. Pick up the phone. I'm sure Bradley wants to fight all of them.” Bradley, 28, was hell-bent on securing another meeting with Pacquiao on the back of their c...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Golden Boy boss still to enlighten boxing fans Oscar De La Hoya’s ‘announcement to shock boxing’ is yet to materialize as the former world champion had tweeted late last week to his 350,000 plus followers. The 38 year-old had the boxing world guessing as to what this major statement would be, but as of 21:00 GMT, there had been no sign of any official GBP releases or posts from anyone involved with the Olympic gold medallist. Rumours had surfaced that a terrestrial TV deal was in the pipeline with Showtime sharing in the rights to bring boxing back to free-to-air networks and some had also whispered quietly the chances of a comeback by the faded legend but we obviously won’t know until the announcement is made.

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘Golden Boy’ to reveal all on Tuesday Successful fighter-turned-Promoter Oscar De La Hoya has promised to ‘shock the boxing industry in a major way’ with an announcement to be made this Tuesday. The 39 year-old, who won world titles in six weight divisions, hasn’t given anything away to the guessing fans on his social networking base of Twitter but will reveal all early next week. De La Hoya has over 350,000 followers on the interactive site, a lot of whom are stumped as to what could bring around such a statement from the Golden Boy Promotions figurehead and will be eager to find out three days’ time. It is highly doubtful that the Hall of Famer will be making a comeback to boxing after retiring almost two years’ ago and speculation is rife that the statement will be regarding some sort of TV deal, possibly for terrestrial TV in the US.

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Trainer leaves great memories One of the great trainers in professional boxing, Angelo Dundee died yesterday at the age of 90. Born Angelo Mirena in 1921, Dundee worked with some of the greatest fighters of all time and will be fondly remembered in boxing circles and beyond. The likeable trainer’s most notable fighters were Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard, who Dundee trained to multiple world championships throughout his many decades in boxing. The Philadelphian was in Ali and Leonard's corner for all of their great fights, including Ali v Liston, Ali v Foreman, Ali v Frazier and Leonard’s bouts with Hagler and Hearns. In 1994, Dundee also trained George Foreman to becoming the oldest world champion of all time as he defeated Michael Moorer - before being overtaken last year by Bernard Hopkins. Dundee was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame later that year and stayed around boxing all his life, including taking par...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Golden Boy CEO blames Top Rank boss for stalling Oscar De La Hoya believes that Bob Arum is the one stopping a possible bout between world welterweight champions Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in 2012 and nobody else. The former multi-weight world title holder says nothing should stop Arum’s star fighter agreeing to the proposed May 5 th date in Las Vegas next year and settling boxing’s biggest debate once and for all. "He's the one who's stopping it from happening," De La Hoya told ESPN. "Bob Arum doesn't want to see the fight happen." "For Bob Arum to say, 'OK, we want the fight.  Our side (meaning Golden Boy and Floyd Mayweather) he wants the fight, we want the fight. “Mayweather has his date for the fifth of May next year. He wants the biggest fight out there. He wants Pacquiao, there's no doubt about that. It would be very unfortunate if this fight could not be made because of Bob A...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Wrongly-convicted fighter in long-awaited pro debut Former Amateur boxer Dewey Bozella finally realised his dream tonight as he turned professional at the ripe old age of 52, scoring a four-round victory over Larry Hopkins at The Staples Center in Los Angeles. Bozella, who wrongly spent 26 years in prison before being released from Sing Sing in 2009, looked a little nervous as the first bell went but soon found a rhythm to out-work the 30 year-old Hopkins and take a points win on all three cards. After the fight, former multi-weight world champion Oscar De La Hoya, who is head of Golden Boy Boxing, Bozella’s promoters, tweeted; “Bozella wins and has inspired me to make a comeback!” after watching the inspirational figure in action, which may have been more than a little tongue in cheek.

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Trainer predicts ‘Golden Boy’ comeback Floyd Mayweather Sr. believes that six-weight world champion Oscar De La Hoya will lace on the gloves once more and embark on a comeback in the near future in an announcement made by the fighter’s former trainer to fighthype.com over the weekend. Mayweather, 61, who trained De La Hoya from 2001 to 2006, is adamant that fight fans have not seen the end of the 38 year-old fight legend-turned promoter and wants to return to the Californian’s corner when he does return to boxing. “I hear Oscar’s talking about fighting again,” explained Mayweather to Fighthype’s Ben Thompson. “If Oscar plans on fighting again, he better come see me. I’m going to be honest with you, I think Oscar will fight again. “I think he will go one more time, if not more,” he added. De La Hoya has been out of the ring since his painful eight-round loss to Manny Pacquiao in 2008 and has been linked with a bout against Rick...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor “Golden Boy” in heart felt tweet to Pacquiao and Arum Golden Boy Promotions boss Oscar De La Hoya has issued an apology to rivals Top Rank in a four-part Twitter message that was posted recently. The 38 year-old former six-weight world champion has been fighting his own demons lately, but took time out to issue this statement to his competitors. Dear Bob Arum, First, I would like to humbly apologize for any pain I have caused to you and or your family. I also want to apologize to manny paquiao for any wrong doing in my part. You are a great champion. I have realized that by accepting my mistakes everyone around me will hopefully forgive me. With great humility I ask we work together for the good of the sport we dearly love. It is not fair to the fans and to the fighters, so today, let's move forward and put on the best fights possible and show the world what we are capable of doing. Thank you Bob. Your friend Oscar. De La Hoya is c...

Hatton to make decision on future when license returns After a week of speculation of a comeback by the “Hitman”, Ricky Hatton has spoken about his dramatic weight-loss and the rumours about a possible return to the ring against American legend Oscar De La Hoya. Hatton, 32, according to livefight.com , has been enjoying the build up to his brother Matthew’s European welterweight title defence, spending time in the gym and sites fitness supplements as a helping hand in his slim physique. “I am not working as hard as I did when I was fighting, but it is all down to products from this company Vyomax Nutrition. I am down to 12 stone and feeling fantastic and happy,” said Hatton. Hatton also spoke about the rumours in the Daily Mail about a possible summer bout with Oscar De La Hoya, who himself has come out this week and told of his annoyance about the possibility of the two fighting. “Oscar said he was angry over the story and I don’t blame him. “I can say its absolute rubbis...

Offer on the table for Ricky to consider comeback Jeff Powell of the Daily Mail has reported that Robert Diaz, executive of Golden Boy Promotions, has offered Ricky Hatton a dream fight with one of heroes on home soil which could prove too good to turn down for the “Hitman”. Ten-time world champion Oscar De La Hoya is willing to travel over to England to potentially sell-out Hatton’s beloved City of Manchester stadium, an offer Ricky would very hard to resist and re-applying for his boxers license could be in the very near future. Its been well documented in the press why Hatton lost his license. The two-weight world champion has just started to get back to the gym, losing almost two stone in the last four weeks and could set aside a summer date at the stadium to make his dream fight with De La Hoya. De La Hoya announced his retirement in April 2009 after his loss to the number one fighter on the planet Manny Pacquiao and may feel he can retire with a victory in what w...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor New IBF Champion calls out Golden Boy Newly crowned IBF Light-Middleweight Champion Cornelius “K-9” Bundrage has offered retired former six-weight world champion Oscar De La Hoya the chance to challenge for his eleventh world title. Brundrage (30-4-0), claimed the title with a surprise knockout victory over Cory Spinks in August and wants to capitalize on his new fight pulling power as he knows time is not on his side at 37 years of age. “This would be a great comeback fight for him. It is a chance for him to go out on top, and who is better than to go out against a champion?” Bundrage told World Boxing News. “Oscar loves boxing and he loves the spotlight,” he continued. “I’m not sure if he has been training or not, but I think he will come back to face the K-9. A lot of guys are challenging me now, but they are in my rear view mirror. I am looking through the front window and see the one guy who I look up to and admire, and he is Oscar De La ...