Vibe.com, May 8th, 2006
Now De La Hoya will have to make a very important decision as to who he will fight on September 16 – a fight he says will possibly be his last.
Arguably the world's best pound-for-pound fighter, 'Pretty Boy' Floyd Mayweather, Jr. says he is positive that he and De La Hoya will go toe-to-toe on September 16th.
“The world wants to see The Golden Boy vs. Pretty Boy... I'm a great buisnessman and he's [De La Hoya] a great buisnessman--the fight will happen," Mayweather said after Saturday night's fight.
If the fight does indeed take place, each fighter will reportedly earn $25 million. Mayweather recently bought himself out of his contract with longtime promoter and CEO of Top Rank Promotions, Bob Arum, for $750,000. Mayweather will now independently promote himself through his company, Mayweather Promotions, as is De La Hoya with Golden Boy Promotions.
"I don't give a damn what he [Mayweather, Jr.] wants, I'm the daddy," said Floyd Mayweather, Sr., who also acts as De La Hoya's trainer. "At the end of the day, what kind of daddy would get his son knocked out? I'm not saying that either one of them can't get knocked out...if I got anything to do with it, and I have a lot to do with it, [the fight] won't happen."
Although Mayweather Sr. is reluctant to see his son fighting his trainee, he did mention that should De La Hoya decide to fight Mayweather, he would withdraw from training The Golden Boy.
"Blood is thicker than water," De La Hoya commented at the post-fight conference. "As a father I respect his decision."
Aside from fighting Mayweather, De La Hoya has several options to choose from. There's Ricky Hatton, Winky Wright, or possibly a rematch with Tito Trinidad.
"A lot of emotions are running through my head right now. I have a lot to think about," De La Hoya said. "I'm going on vacation with my wife for two weeks and then I'll decide. A lot of people are going to be surprised with the decision I make."
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