De La Hoya-Hopkins Rematch Runs Into Snag

Two boxing announcements have been planned for this week. But one of the deals may have hit a major snag with the news conference only 24 hours away.

In one of the two proposed agreements, promoters Dan Goossen and Roy Jones have agreed in principle to a deal with Andre Ward, winner of the only U.S. gold medal in boxing at the Athens Olympics. If negotiations with James Prince, Ward’s manager, result in a signed contract, Ward, who won the gold at 178 pounds, could make his professional debut as a middleweight Dec. 18 at Staples Center on the undercard of the Antonio Tarver-Glen Johnson light-heavyweight main event.

Oscar De La Hoya is hoping to sign a deal with middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins, who defeated him in September. Richard Schaefer, head of De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, felt so confident a deal was in place that he scheduled a news conference for Tuesday.

But Sunday, Schaefer received a letter from Arnold Joseph, an attorney representing Hopkins, that read in part, “Bernard and I have just discussed the e-mail which I understand you sent to the press on Friday. Bernard is disturbed that a communication involving him was released without his express consent or knowledge. While it is true that we have received and are considering Golden Boy’s proposal, as you know, Bernard has not agreed to anything.”