American Oscar “Golden Boy” de la Hoya will return to the ring, following the first defeat of his professional career in September, on February 26 at Madison Square Garden for a welterweight contest with the WBC’s top-ranked fighter Derrell Coley.

De la Hoya is still smarting from the loss to Puerto Rican Felix Trinidad and declared that he had refused to dump the bout with 29-year-old Coley, who has a record of 34 wins, 24 inside the distance, one loss and two draws, for a rematch with Trinidad.
The 26-year-old, who is 31-1 with 25 knockouts, lost on a majority decision to Trinidad on September 18 in Las Vegas for his first loss in a carefully crafted seven year professional career.
The February 26 bout will mark de la Hoya’s first trip back to the “Big Apple” in over four years, where he crushed James Leija in December of 1995 in front of 16,000 fans.
De la Hoya, who had been accused before the Trinidad fight of avoiding his major rival, was still moaning about the defeat.
“It was very difficult to accept that loss. It is a sad note to end on but that happens with jump jockeys, it happened to me.”
TONY McCOY
“Richard wasn’t hard to beat on the track, he was the hardest. Though we’ll all miss him in the weighing-room, we won’t miss him in a race I can tell you.”. American Oscar “Golden Boy” de la Hoya will return to the ring, following the first defeat of his professional career in September, on February 26 at Madison Square Garden for a welterweight contest with the WBC’s top-ranked fighter Derrell Coley. He was stable jockey for me for a season and really helped when I was getting going. His retirement is a great loss.”
TERRY BIDDLECOMBE
“I was hoping he would be back for Cheltenham – he is very good around there. But he is a very kind bloke and a good friend.”
MICK FITZGERALD
“Richard was the best I’ve ever seen and probably the best that’s ever been.”
PAUL NICHOLLS
“Richard was the ultimate professional and a great guy as you always knew he was on your side when he was riding.

Richard was aware of his responsibilities as champion jockey, role-model and president and he truly cared for his fellow jockeys.”
STAN MELLOR
“I always felt he was a role-model for younger riders. In my time you could tell the different jockeys by their riding styles, but many have tried to copy him and now they all look alike Richard has a bit to do with that. Richard’s legacy is that he has left behind a lot of stylish jockeys.”
CARL LLEWELLYN
“He is the ultimate professional, very dedicated and determined in whatever race it was as he really hated to be beaten – in fact he was his own worst critic. Richard Dunwoody was the most complete jockey of his generation, he had many strengths and no weaknesses.

Richard was a magnificent president of the Jockeys’ Association. It is better for him to go at the top rather than go downhill and perhaps get a serious injury.”
MARTIN PIPE
“Richard was a great jockey, a true professional and he rode some brilliant races for us. He won the Grand National for us on Miinnehoma and a Whitbread on Cache Fleur in which he got down to his minimum weight.”
MICHAEL CAULFIELD
“I was present to witness his first winner at a point-to-point in May 1983, since then his career has been spectacular. He rode a great race on Challenger Du Luc when he won the Murphy’s Gold Cup.

He made bad horses look good and every day he was at his best. He was like Peter Scudamore, very dedicated but perhaps a little bit more polished. He rode a four-timer for me at Stratford, he won the Mackeson in 1986 on Very Promising, the Gold Cup on Charter Party in 1988 and an Arkle on Waterloo Boy. I think Call It A Day was his last ride for me when third in last season’s Grand National.”
JOHN FRANCOME
“I rode against him many times and his retirement is sad for spectators – he was the one man who could give Tony McCoy a run for his money. DAVID NICHOLSON

DAVID NICHOLSON

“I am not surprised, I am sorry he has to retire, but I am delighted he is going out at the top.

He is one of the nicest people I have ever worked with, a gentleman – he was a great rider. He has been a credit to his profession and we have had some great moments – we had 40 winners at Cheltenham. He has yet to do so, and now Sulaiman has said the result of a formal vote on stripping Hamed will be announced next month.
“We had a very nice conversation between two people who understand each other,” Sulaiman said. “He [Hamed] confirmed that he did not want to relinquish the WBO title.