Keep smiling, pretty boy

“I’m announcing my retirement because I’ve been doing this since I was five years old and it’s just the love of my life for boxing is my passion and it was what I was born to do. And when I can’t do it any more and come in at the highest level, it’s not fair to me, it’s not fair to the fans, and it’s not fair to nobody. I’ve come to the conclusion that’s it’s over.”

— Oscar de la Hoya, announcing his retirement from professional boxing.  De la Hoya turned professional at the age of 19, after winning a gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.  Since then, he has fought 32 bouts, and held 10 world titles in different weight classes.

While a few fans have carped that the Golden Boy should have gone a few more rounds, De la Hoya just hasn’t been at his best the last few fights, and at age 36…  his boyish smile and most of his brain cells are still intact, but his left hook just isn’t what it used to be… it’s time to hang up his gloves.

David A. Avila, at The Sweet Science has a review of de la Hoya’s career and his emotional retirement announcement.  Even boxing fans who never were in de la Hoya’s corner were a bit saddened by the news.  “The Roast” commented:

Back when we all were younger, I was pretty angry at Oscar for beating up on one of my heros and yours, Juilo Ceasar Chavez. I thought keep smiling pretty boy, some day a younger, bigger, stronger fighter will come along and you’ll get your’s and I’ll be there to watch. Well since then I’ve learned that that’s the way boxing goes. A younger guy always comes along and beats your hero. As fans we could have done a lot worse than Oscar De La Hoya. So long Champ.