Coyote Duran: When you hear the comment about Margarito claiming he’s ‘The Most Feared Man In Boxing’, do you think that’s Margarito or (Margarito’s promoter) Bob Arum talking?

Oscar De La Hoya: (Laughs) Well, obviously, that’s the reason why they have a promoter. You have your promoter speaking for you. And I can understand. Bob Arum wants the best, biggest, high profile fight for his fighter, but you have to earn it. Speaking as a fighter and speaking as a promoter, I feel that Margarito hasn’t earned it! I mean, I think Baldomir has earned the shot at Mayweather. I think he might be a couple fights ahead of Margarito to earning a shot at Mayweather.

Coyote Duran: Doesn’t it seem rather backwards that the champion (like Carlos Baldomir) has to chase contenders?

Oscar De La Hoya: Well, I mean, obviously, I think right now, Mayweather has so many choices. He has so many choices that he obviously wants to get the best fight for the most amount of dollars. That’s very understandable. In today’s world, you have so many fights out there where you can make so much money and, obviously, a fight with Mayweather and Baldomir is a very attractive fight for Mayweather. Mayweather’s big prize out there would be a fight with me, which, obviously, I’m not counting out. If you ask me if it’s gonna happen,…(chuckles) uh, you know, I’m very positive it will happen!

Coyote Duran: Now that helps lead to my next question, Oscar. Who do you see fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr. first?: Shane Mosley at welterweight or, perhaps, you at a catchweight?

Oscar De La Hoya: Well, I’m sure that since I wanna leave the sport rather sooner than later, you know, a fight with me and Mayweather can be very possible and very soon. I think that a fight with me and Mayweather would be the biggest fight ever, including the heavyweight division. We’re just two fighters that bring a lot to the table and a lot of people will tune in and watch that.

Coyote Duran: In my estimation, a fight against Floyd Mayweather or a victory over Floyd Mayweather Jr. would not make you career complete, judging from your past accomplishments. To me, I guess it would merely ice the cake. Is this fight something you feel you need to complete your career with or if it happens, it happens?

Oscar De La Hoya: I think if it happens, it happens. Obviously, fighting Floyd is not gonna make or break my career. I hope I still have a place in The Hall Of Fame. I think it would be kind of like icing on the cake. It’s like putting the icing on, putting the candle on and blowing it out. It would be kind of like a perfect ending. But is it gonna make me or break me? I mean, financially? It’s not gonna do anything for me. If I beat him, obviously, it’s gonna make me a very happy camper. (Laughs)

Coyote Duran: With all the little stories and sub-conflicts behind this fight, it almost seems like a soap opera in boxing. If you were to, indeed, face Mayweather before retiring, who would you say the conflict actually involved more? You versus Floyd Jr. or Floyd Jr. versus his father (Oscar’s trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr.)? No matter what, it’s really gonna be your trainer versus his own son.

Oscar De La Hoya: Obviously, that’s a story in itself. You know, blood is thicker than water. If this fight does get made, we (Oscar and Floyd Sr.) would have to really analyze and discuss this whole situation because it would be very odd for me to be training with Floyd Sr. and he would be training me to beat up his son. I mean, what kind of father would he be or what kind of fighter would I be? I mean, it would just be very awkward. But, you know, things can be worked out. If that isn’t gonna get in the way of making this fight, I feel very confident that this fight will happen. But it can be a big distraction.

Coyote Duran: Do you believe that if the fight came off, Floyd Sr. would be hurt, to an extent?

Oscar De La Hoya: Absolutely. Floyd Sr. is such a great man. In the years that I’ve known him, I mean, he really is a good, good person inside! He really does have a great, great heart. You know, the stories that he’s been telling me about Floyd Jr. are not nice ones, not pleasant to hear. It’s like, you say to yourself after he tells you these stories, “What kind of son is he? How can a son do this to his father?” I mean, you can maybe justify if maybe Sr.. does train me to beat his son on the stories that he tells me about his son. It’s obviously, ultimately, up to the father and if he has no problem with it, then I have no problem with it.

Coyote Duran: In looking at your career, Oscar, let’s look at the big picture. Let’s not just concentrate on Floyd Mayweather or Antonio Margarito or whoever. Who would be your choice as the perfect opponent today that could close it all, ideally, for your career as a final fight?

Oscar De La Hoya: Um?……….Hmm…….As a final fight?……..I mean, truly, I think Floyd Mayweather couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. If you really think about it, he is the Pound-For-Pound champion of the world. He is undefeated. You know, he is the next, young superstar in boxing. That would be the ideal fight for me. That would the fight that really would satisfy me. Do I take it? Do I have to take it? NO, but as a fighter, it would really satisfy me just to be in there with one of the best out there in boxing.

Coyote Duran: Have you done it all in this sport or is there anything you think you’ve left undone that you haven’t touched yet?

Oscar De La Hoya: Actually, I’m very satisfied! Even if you take a look at my losses, except for the Hopkins fight (back in 2004), I’m very satisfied with what I’ve accomplished, with what I’ve done. It’s been a great career. I’m content with everything, with what I’ve done. If it’s mistakes or if it’s good things, I’m just very happy with how everything turned out. There’s no complaints from me. I’ve learned from a lot of mistakes I’ve made. I’ve grown from learning from people like Richard Schaefer, who is my CEO, and I’ve learned from the best in the game, like (promoter) Don Chargin, who is our consultant in matchmaking. It’s been a great ride and I think, as a promoter, now we’re gonna have a lot of years that are gonna be good ones and I’m looking forward to it!

Coyote Duran: Before we close this out, Oscar, are there any words for your scores of fans or the fine readers of Doghouse Boxing.com?

Oscar De La Hoya: Just watch out for Kassim Ouma, this Saturday, and watch out for Ishe Smith, who are really a big threat at 147. Again, if Margarito needs an opponent, there they are. (Chuckles)

Coyote Duran: Thank you very much for the time, Oscar. We appreciate it so much.

Oscar De La Hoya: All right, you got it! Thank you very much.

Doghouse Boxing.com and I would love to thank Marylyn Aceves of Golden Boy Promotions for arranging our discussion and most importantly, Oscar De La Hoya for his valuable time. It was an absolute pleasure.