De la Hoya-Mayweather set for May
Mayweather will risk his unbeaten record against De la Hoya
The much-anticipated bout between Oscar de la Hoya and Floyd Mayweather will happen next May, according to reports.
De la Hoya, 33, told ESPN.com that the bout on 5 May, 2007, was a "done deal".
Mayweather, who won the WBC welterweight title earlier this month, will step up to light middleweight for what he says will be his last fight.
It will be a lucrative final payday for the 29-year-old against De la Hoya, who has won 10 titles in six divisions but who has not fought since last May.
Terms were not revealed but both sides said that their fighters will make career-high purses, which means $25m+ (£13m+) for De la Hoya and in excess of $10m (£5.25m) for Mayweather.
Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer told the website that the fight would take place in either Las Vegas or Los Angeles.
De la Hoya, who was an Olympic gold medallist in 1992, was last in the ring back in May when he claimed the WBC light middleweight crown from Ricardo Miyorga in a vintage display in Las Vegas.
Mayweather, who has won five titles in four divisions, outclassed Carlos Baldomir to win the WBC welterweight title on 4 November in the same city.
The American remains unbeaten in his 37 fights and said after beating Baldomir that his next bout would be his last.
De la Hoya is trained by Mayweather's estranged father but the Puerto Rican boxer said he would understand if his trainer felt too uncomfortable to be in his corner.
"I will sit down and talk about this," said De la Hoya. "I want us both to be comfortable with the situation.
"But I am prepared if he says no to me. I am prepared to move on and get somebody else."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/boxing/6146382.stm
Finally.
Mayweather will risk his unbeaten record against De la Hoya
The much-anticipated bout between Oscar de la Hoya and Floyd Mayweather will happen next May, according to reports.
De la Hoya, 33, told ESPN.com that the bout on 5 May, 2007, was a "done deal".
Mayweather, who won the WBC welterweight title earlier this month, will step up to light middleweight for what he says will be his last fight.
It will be a lucrative final payday for the 29-year-old against De la Hoya, who has won 10 titles in six divisions but who has not fought since last May.
Terms were not revealed but both sides said that their fighters will make career-high purses, which means $25m+ (£13m+) for De la Hoya and in excess of $10m (£5.25m) for Mayweather.
Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer told the website that the fight would take place in either Las Vegas or Los Angeles.
De la Hoya, who was an Olympic gold medallist in 1992, was last in the ring back in May when he claimed the WBC light middleweight crown from Ricardo Miyorga in a vintage display in Las Vegas.
Mayweather, who has won five titles in four divisions, outclassed Carlos Baldomir to win the WBC welterweight title on 4 November in the same city.
The American remains unbeaten in his 37 fights and said after beating Baldomir that his next bout would be his last.
De la Hoya is trained by Mayweather's estranged father but the Puerto Rican boxer said he would understand if his trainer felt too uncomfortable to be in his corner.
"I will sit down and talk about this," said De la Hoya. "I want us both to be comfortable with the situation.
"But I am prepared if he says no to me. I am prepared to move on and get somebody else."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/boxing/6146382.stm
Finally.
