Mayweather Outpoints De La Hoya

39-0 boxer forgoes $20 million payoff

(NEWSER) - Undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. is hanging up his gloves, nixing a high-profile rematch against Oscar De La Hoya, ESPN.com reports. “This decision was not an easy one for me to make,” the welterweight champ said. “However, these past few years have been extremely difficult for me to find the desire and joy to continue.” More»

Photogenic boxer is hot, but can title fight heat up boxing?

(NEWSER) - In the Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather Jr. title fight, the defending champion with the winning smile is the overwhelming people's favorite. And the bout is for more than just the WBC light middleweight crown. It's projected to shatter pay-per-view records and perhaps even rejuvenate boxing—a notion De La Hoya rejects. More»

Pacquiao fight raises excitement in the sport

(NEWSER) - Last night's big fight between Manny Pacquiao and “Sugar” Shane Mosely turned out to be a dud, with Pacquiao winning an easy decision, reports AP . But the fight had generated much buzz, leading Atlantic to ponder whether the sport might be ready to burst back into the mainstream. Some pros:

• Sports are global now: Sure, there aren’t any dominant Americans, but these days American fans follow English soccer teams and root for baseball stars like Ichiro Suzuki and Albert Pujols.
• The Internet: Newspapers don’t cover boxing anymore, but you can get plenty of news—and video—online.
• Pacquiao: He’s at the top of the sport, he’s exceedingly likeable, and has a rapid-fire style that’s a joy to watch. As his biographer once said, Pacquiao “has essentially been carrying the sport on his back.”

(NEWSER) - Boxer Oscar De La Hoya called it quits today after an electrifying career, the Los Angeles Times reports. “Knowing that you’re never going to compete again is a tough decision,” said De La Hoya, 36, who earned the nickname “Golden Boy” in a victorious 1992 Olympics that launched his career. “When I cannot compete at this level, I have come to the conclusion that it is over.” More»

Says boxing champ took steroids for de la Hoya bout

(NEWSER) - Shane Mosley was perfectly aware he had taken steroids before defeating Oscar de la Hoya in 2003, claims convicted steroid dealer Victor Conte. "He knew what he was taking and I told him that before he took it," BALCO founder Conte said. The prizefighter says he never knowingly took steroids and is suing for libel, the LA Times reports. More»