Habang tinitingala pa siya, mas mabuting magretiro na si world six-division champion Oscar Dela Hoya.
Ito ang payo ni World Boxing Council (WBC) president Jose Sulaiman ukol sa 35-anyos na si Dela Hoya na nanggaling sa isang eight-round TKO loss kay Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao noong Disyembre 6.
“Oscar was a great champion, a great boxer, very good for the sport and he did a lot,” ani Sulaiman kay Dela Hoya. “But boxer should understand when the time is up. They should understand when it is more important to preserve their prestige and record for history, rather than continue exposing heir health and their lives.”
Kasalukuyang tangan ni Dela Hoya, ang 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games gold medalist, ang 39-6-0 win-loss-draw ring record kasama ang 30 KOs.
Umaasa si Sulaiman na tuluyan nang isasabit ni Dela Hoya ang kanyang boxing gloves para ituon ang kanyang atensyon sa pagpapalakas pa ng pinamamahalaan niyang Golden Boy Promotions.
“The legacy is there. I hope he will not touch it anymore. For his own sake, for his own record, for his own future, he shouldn’t fight anymore,” sabi ni Sulaiman kay Dela Hoya, naghari sa lightweight, light welterweight, welterweight, super welterweight, middleweight at light middleweight division.
Nauna nang hinamon ng kampo ni Mexican light middleweight contender Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. si Dela Hoya.
“Julio, Jr is a little raw, and Oscar is definitely in a part of his life that he should not continue fighting anymore,” ani Sulaiman kay Chavez, Jr., ang anak ni Mexican boxing legend Julio Cesar Chavez, Sr. na dalawang beses binugbog ni Dela Hoya. ”I’m sure it will be a very big money fight, but I doubt it will happen.” (Russell Cadayona)