Now that they have patched up their differences, maybe Oscar De La Hoya finally will get back his 1992 Olympic boxing gold medal from Bob Arum.
Their reunion — and the end of a feud — took place Friday in Beverly Hills, where Arum and De La Hoya, rival promoters, officially announced a junior-lightweight title rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Marco Antonio Barrera on Oct. 6 in Las Vegas.
De La Hoya, who achieved much of his ring fame when Arum was his promoter, represents Barrera. Arum promotes Pacquiao, who stopped Barrera in the 11th round of a 2003 fight.
When Arum accused De La Hoya of trying to illegally lure Pacquiao away from him not long ago, the rift escalated.
It was then that De La Hoya began wondering if he would ever get back the gold medal he said he “loaned” to Arum on his 70th birthday five years ago.
“When I gave it to him, it was the idea he wouldn’t keep it permanently,” De La Hoya said during a news conference Thursday at Arco Arena, where he is promoting tonight’s title card.
“Now that we’re speaking again, I’m not worried. It’ll be returned.”
