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No one can say that Oscar De La Hoya won’t go down in boxing history as one of the greats of all time. Yet for all his success, he’s never really been a champion of the people. Oh sure, girls think he’s cute and many guys admire his boxing skills and business acumen, but how many boxing fans—especially Mexican fans—really love him?

He will never be a Julio Cesar Chavez, nor even an Antonio Margarito—Mexican boxers who are worshiped by Mexico’s passionate boxing fans. Ironically it may be the characteristics that have made him so successful which make him less of a fan favorite. He is and always has been a shrewd, calculating man, both in and outside the ring…well, perhaps except for the time he decided it was a good idea to dress up as a women and let a stripper take compromising photos of him (allegedly—cough). In the ring he’s preferred the American style of moving and boxing to the Mexican style of bulldozing ahead with fists flying.

As his career draws to a close, it appears his remaining fights will do little to improve his legacy. In fact, they may even diminish it—as the beating he took from Pacquiao already has. Let’s face it, that was by far the most devastating (and embarrassing) loss that De La Hoya has ever suffered. Oscar now faces a tough decision. Should he hang up his gloves once and for all and stick to counting his money and looking pretty? Or should he have one more go at it, to try to close out his career with a victory instead of any ugly loss? My guess is we WILL see De La Hoya in the ring one more time. But for now all we can do is wait and see.

Until this question is answered we leave you with OYE’s last Q&A with Oscar De La Hoya.

Everyone wants to know what’s next.
That’s been talked about for a long time. I’ve mentioned it because I obviously always want to fight the best challengers out there. But there is nothing on the table and I am not even thinking about it. I have to say, Mayweather is the best pound for pound fighter out there. One thing is for sure: I have to sit down with various people to discuss it.

What was Mayorga saying to you in the ring before your fight with him?
He said, “It has come down to it. I’m going to knock you out.”
I just smiled at him and I said. “This is the moment of truth.”

What did you tell Mayorga after the fight?
I told him that I forgive him for all of the bad things he was saying. And I told him that I am sure that all the people watching and everyone who was against him forgive him for what he was saying. He gave me his props. He told me that I was a true champion, and I do respect that. We gave each other a hug and that’s it.

Mayorga said that one of the reasons he didn’t like you was that you had beaten his hero, Julio Cesar Chavez. Do you feel a lot of Mexican fight fans still dislike you because of this, or have they opened up to you?
I definitely feel it’s changed. A few here and there will tell me, “You beat my hero!” But I tell them, “He is my hero too.” As a fighter your job is to win. To me it was an honor to be in the same ring with him. Still, to this day, it’s unfortunate that I did beat my hero. But I think a lot of people understand that this is what we do as fighters and it’s nothing personal.

You made a political statement in the Mayorga fight with your headband. Why did you decide to do that?
My parents were immigrants. I just believe in people working hard. People who cross the border want to work. It’s part of being desperate to work and wanting to have a better life for their families. I believe in that. Obviously it shouldn’t be easy for anyone to get a green card. You should be living here for several years. You should be paying taxes. You should be American. I was born here but my blood is Mexican. I believe in the red, white and blue. And I am very proud of my roots.

I think given the opportunity immigrants have a lot to contribute to our wonderful country. I feel this country is the land of opportunity, the best country in the world.

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