BOXING De La Hoya fights to make millions

Even Oscar De La Hoya admits his opponent, Yory Boy Campas, is washed up.
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Oscar De La Hoya can make millions for what looks like little more than a sparring session Saturday night because he is, well, Oscar De La Hoya.
But even De La Hoya had to reach deep for a story line to sell this one against Yory Boy Campas.
"These are my last fights," De La Hoya said.
"The boxing fans will not see more of me in the future."
The idea of paying to see De La Hoya while you still can is one way of getting boxing fans to pay up to $600 for a ringside seat or $49.95 for the pay-per-view for De La Hoya's title defense against a faded Campas.
At least the 154-pound champion isn't trying to sell Campas as a serious threat.
"I've taken big fights all my life," De La Hoya said. "Sometimes one has to take a break."
Huge favorite
De La Hoya is a prohibitive 25-1 favorite to beat Campas in what essentially is merely a tuneup for his Sept. 13 rematch with Shane Mosley, one of only two fighters to beat him.
That hasn't stopped fans from buying enough tickets to make the fight at Mandalay Bay hotel-casino a sellout.
And it won't stop them from buying the pay-per-view in such numbers that De La Hoya will walk away with $10 million or so for his night's work.
They won't watch because promoter Bob Arum lured them with tales of Cinco de Mayo upsets and magical potions that will make Campas fight better.
They'll watch because De La Hoya is one of only two fighters -- Mike Tyson being the other -- who is so magnetic he can sell out an arena just by showing up.
"I can guarantee you it will be worthwhile," De La Hoya said.
Needed a tuneup
De La Hoya, who stopped Fernando Vargas in one of the biggest wins of his career last September, hadn't planned to fight at all before he meets Mosley.
But he decided he needed a tuneup, and went out looking for the perfect opponent for the job.
He found him in Campas, a lumbering and faded former champion who can still punch but doesn't figure to be able to box much against De La Hoya.
Campas (80-5, 68 knockouts) is believed by many to have quit in most of his toughest fights.
"I know he's quit before when he feels pressure and can't handle it," De La Hoya said. "My goal is to knock him out. I'm going to go out there and start fast."
Also on the card is a featherweight title defense by Erik Morales of Tijuana (43-1, 32 knockouts) against Bobby Boy Valardez (24-1-1, six knockouts) of Sacramento.
Another bout is a light flyweight title defense by Jorge Arce (33-3-1, 25 knockouts) of Mexico against Melchor Cob Castro (66-8-4), also of Mexico.