De La Hoya can take hit

      Oscar De La Hoya was probably as happy late Saturday night as he has ever been after a professional fight.
      De La Hoya had taken a unanimous 12-round decision over Miguel Angel Gonzalez to retain his World Boxing Council super lightweight championship at the Thomas & Mack Center.
      De La Hoya returned to the ring for the post-fight news conference proudly holding an ice pack to a large welt under his left eye.
      Although De La Hoya had won 22 straight pro fights, he never looked more bruised since turning pro more than four years ago.
      De La Hoya wore the "mouse" under his left eye like a badge of courage as he smiled broadly.
      Most fighters come to the post-fight news conference wearing dark glasses to hide their swollen eyes, as did Gonzalez.
      Not De La Hoya.
      "Boxing is a sport where you unfortunately have to get hit once in a while," he said. "He hit me with a good right hand. Big deal. Do it again."
      The "Golden Boy," who earned $5 million, had never been cut or seriously marked after a fight.
      De La Hoya's popularity among Mexican fans has suffered because he never had the traditional battered look of a fighter.
      He did his part in setting up a showdown with Pernell Whitaker, the WBC welterweight champion, and did it with a masterful boxing performance.
      The megabucks welterweight battle will happen if Whitaker retains his title against Cuban Diobelis Hurtado on Friday night in Atlantic City.
      Top Rank Inc. promoter Bob Arum has scheduled the De La Hoya-Whitaker fight for April 12. Caesars Palace is considering constructing a temporary arena in front of the hotel over the fountains. The alternative is to go off-site again at the Thomas & Mack.
      Arum said Sunday that if the heavily favored Whitaker wins Friday, the April 12 fight will be formally announced Jan. 28 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
      De La Hoya slept late Sunday after celebrating into the early-morning hours at his sister's birthday party at the All-Star Cafe.
      "His spirits are very good," said Top Rank vice president Todd duBoef, who was with De La Hoya on Sunday afternoon. "He felt very good about the whole fight. He told me he gave Gonzalez a boxing lesson. Oscar said he felt real sharp. He was very pleased with his performance. I thought he looked unbelievable."
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