De La Hoya takes tune-up match before Mosley

Dean Juipe

Friday, Jan. 10, 2003 | 10:21 a.m.

Oscar De La Hoya confirmed Thursday that he would fight May 3 in Las Vegas against an opponent unlikely to disrupt his long-term plan of fighting Shane Mosley here in September.

De La Hoya's promoter Bob Arum indicated that Yory Boy Campas will provide the opposition.

The announcement amends earlier reports that De La Hoya was considering a May fight in Japan, and counters another in which he said he would fight only once in 2003.

His most recent fight was Sept. 14 at Mandalay Bay, where he defeated archrival Fernando Vargas by 11th-round technical knockout.

"I am going to take a fight in May, I think it's very important," De La Hoya said. "I think I should keep that momentum going and keep myself in shape so that I can shine against Shane Mosley."

Fighting once a year -- and with 12 months between the fights -- was impractical, De La Hoya decided.

"Truthfully, a year is too much to wait for a fight," he said. "I think I would lose that focus, lose that edge."

But don't look for De La Hoya, who is 35-2 and the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association champion at 154 pounds, to be tested too hard by Campas.

"These are my last fights and I want to make them worthwhile," he said as his career begins to wind down and his 30th birthday approaches.

And his preference for fighting in Las Vegas helped scuttle the notion of going to Tokyo.

"It would be wonderful to fight in Japan, but, realistically, it'll be Las Vegas," he said. "We'll make it a big, fun event."