de la Hoya, nicknamed ‘the Golden Boy’, held world titles at six different weights and ends with a win-loss record of 39-6 with 30 knockouts.

“When I cannot compete at this level, I have come to the conclusion that it is over,” said the Mexican-American.

“Knowing you are never going to fight again is a tough decision but I am looking forward to the future.”

de la Hoya won a gold medal at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 and won 10 world titles, first at super-featherweight, before moving eventually through to middleweight.

He beat Julio Cesar Chavez for the light-welterweight championship twice and claimed the unofficial crown of the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world when he beat Pernell Whitaker for the WBC welterweight crown in 1997.
In 2007, he lost to Floyd Mayweather Jr but it was the defeat by Manny Pacquiao last December – his last fight – that pushed him towards retirement.

de la Hoya added: “This was a decision I was going back and forth with, thinking I can do it one more time.

“But it’s not fair to me, it’s not fair to the fans, it’s not fair to nobody. I’ve come to the conclusion that’s over; it’s over inside the ring for me.” (BBC Sport)