THE SHOWDOWN: BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE DE LA HOYA-RUELAS FIGHT : OSCAR DE LA HOYA : ‘I Don’t Deserve Any Criticism’

Oscar De La Hoya, a target of criticism his entire pro career, reacts most sharply to the charge that he has scrupulously avoided any fighters viewed as serious threats to his undefeated record.

“I don’t deserve any criticism; people have to understand this is my 17th fight, and I’ve already faced a (Jorge) Paez, a Carl Griffith, a John John Molina; I’m facing Rafael Ruelas,” De La Hoya said.

“No other fighter in their right mind would face fighters like that in their 17th fight.

“They want to see me face Rafael Ruelas, they want me to face Mike Tyson. It’s just pressure that sometimes is hard to deal with.”

*

The International Boxing Federation is maneuvering to complicate matters for the winner of the De La Hoya-Ruelas title bout, but promoter Bob Arum says that if it’s De La Hoya, he doesn’t care what the IBF does.

If De La Hoya takes away Ruelas’ IBF lightweight belt, Arum says, De La Hoya might ignore the IBF’s threat to strip him if he doesn’t fight the No. 1 contender, Miguel Julio. De La Hoya would retain his World Boxing Organization title.

“Oscar doesn’t need the IBF,” Arum said. “He can fight (Angel) Gonzalez, (the World Boxing Council lightweight champion,) and then win that title and give up the WBC title.

“What does he need that for? The WBO is so happy to have him as champion, he can do whatever he wants. Why keep these other titles? They’re just heavy baggage to carry around.”