De la Hoya announces retirement -
04-15-2009, 08:33 PM
Ten-time boxing world champion Oscar de la Hoya announced his retirement from the sport on Tuesday.
The 36-year-old Mexican-American's last bout was back in December when Filipino Manny Pacquiao stopped him in the eighth round.
De la Hoya looked a shadow of the boxer that had accrued 10 world titles in six different weight classes since he first announced his great talent by winning an Olympic gold medal at the 1992 Games in Barcelona.
De la Hoya - known as 'The Golden Boy' - indicated just after he had been battered into submission by Pacquiao that his powers were definitely on the wane.
"My heart still wants to fight that's for sure, but when your physical doesn't respond, what can you do?"
De la Hoya - who started his own boxing promotion company while he was still active in the ring - retires with a record of 39 victories 6 defeats with 30 knockouts.