madjack
20-02-2003, 04:43 AM
De la Hoya to fight Campas
February 17, 2003
WORLD Boxing Association and World Boxing Council welterweight champion Oscar de la Hoya will defend his crown on May 3 in Las Vegas against Mexico's Yory Boy Campas before a possible re-match with Shane Mosley.
De la Hoya, 35-2 with 28 knockouts, has not fought since last September, when he stopped fellow American Fernando Vargas to win the WBA crown.
Before that, de la Hoya had gone 15 months without a fight.
"I have this incredible love for boxing," de la Hoya said.
"I really like going into the ring and I really like to compete. This in my number one focus, boxing.
"I really believe that I have not reached the peak of my career."
De la Hoya, nicknamed "Golden Boy" after a 1992 Olympic gold medal, wants to avenge his only defeats, to Mosley and Puerto Rico's Felix Trinidad.
But Trinidad has retired and Mosley is not available before September.
For now, 30-year-old De la Hoya must be content with 31-year-old Campas, the former International Boxing Federation junior welterweight champion.
Campas lost that crown to Vargas in 1998.
Mosley has claimed that de la Hoya is being unfair in money talks about their proposed fight here on September 13.
Although Mosley won their first fight, his value has diminished in recent months.
Mosley lost twice to Vernon Forrest last year and just moved up to super welterweight for the first time last weekend.
His fight against Raul Marquez on February 8 was ruled no contest after three rounds as Marquez was cut by accidental head-butts.
Also on the card for the "Cinco de Mayo" weekend will be a title defence by WBC featherweight champion Erik Morales against Bobby Velardez.
February 17, 2003
WORLD Boxing Association and World Boxing Council welterweight champion Oscar de la Hoya will defend his crown on May 3 in Las Vegas against Mexico's Yory Boy Campas before a possible re-match with Shane Mosley.
De la Hoya, 35-2 with 28 knockouts, has not fought since last September, when he stopped fellow American Fernando Vargas to win the WBA crown.
Before that, de la Hoya had gone 15 months without a fight.
"I have this incredible love for boxing," de la Hoya said.
"I really like going into the ring and I really like to compete. This in my number one focus, boxing.
"I really believe that I have not reached the peak of my career."
De la Hoya, nicknamed "Golden Boy" after a 1992 Olympic gold medal, wants to avenge his only defeats, to Mosley and Puerto Rico's Felix Trinidad.
But Trinidad has retired and Mosley is not available before September.
For now, 30-year-old De la Hoya must be content with 31-year-old Campas, the former International Boxing Federation junior welterweight champion.
Campas lost that crown to Vargas in 1998.
Mosley has claimed that de la Hoya is being unfair in money talks about their proposed fight here on September 13.
Although Mosley won their first fight, his value has diminished in recent months.
Mosley lost twice to Vernon Forrest last year and just moved up to super welterweight for the first time last weekend.
His fight against Raul Marquez on February 8 was ruled no contest after three rounds as Marquez was cut by accidental head-butts.
Also on the card for the "Cinco de Mayo" weekend will be a title defence by WBC featherweight champion Erik Morales against Bobby Velardez.