Oscar De La Hoya said on Wednesday he was committed to just one more fight this year before retiring.
‘One more and that's it. ... this is my final year. I'm doing one fight and hanging up the gloves,’ De La Hoya said.
De La Hoya threw down the gauntlet to the recently retired Floyd Mayweather Jr, saying if Mayweather wanted to fight him again it had to be soon.
The undefeated Mayweather, 31, announced his retirement from boxing last week, denying fans a rematch with De La Hoya after Mayweather defeated the ‘Golden Boy’ in a split decision last year in a WBC light middleweight title bout.
They were due to fight again in September but Mayweather retired.
‘The time is running out. If Mayweather is playing these little games thinking he can catch me at an older age next year, it's not going to happen. It has to happen by this year,’ said De La Hoya.
De La Hoya previously had planned one final bout in December after the Mayweather fight but was clear on Wednesday there would be just one more fight in 2008.
He said he is committed to fighting at 154 pounds (70 kg), meaning any opponent would have to adjust to that weight.
‘Manny Pacquiao is calling me out. He can jump up two or three weight classes and challenge me,’ De La Hoya said.
‘There is and interesting fight happening, Miguel Cotto against Antonio Margarito (on July 26), that should be interesting to watch. Maybe I can get the winner. We'll see.’
De La Hoya, born in East Los Angeles to Mexican parents, rose to fame by winning a gold medal for the United States in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and won the nickname ‘Golden Boy’ for his good looks and wholesome image.
He won professional acclaim by defeating Mexican Julio Cesar Chavez in 1996 and has won championships at six weight classes. At age 35 he has a record of 39-5 with 30 knockouts.
