Gloves coming off

I'm sitting down with boxing champ Oscar De La Hoya today for a one-on-one interview that's sure to be interesting.

When I talked to some of the sports writers about today's chat, they had plenty of questions they wanted me to pose to the Mexican-American boxer nicknamed "Golden Boy" who won a gold medal for the United States in boxing at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.

Oscar is in Chicago to promote two things, in addition to himself, of course.

After removing himself from the ring in 2006, he will go up against "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 5 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas to defend his junior middleweight title. (The latest Las Vegas odds have him as a 2-to-1 underdog to the younger Mayweather, but it's reported Oscar is earning $25 million for the event and Mayweather, a cool $10 million.)

In addition to his upcoming fight, Oscar also is pushing his new production company Golden Boy Promotions and a partnership with Tecate Beer, one of Mexico's top brands of beer, which also happens to be one of the lead sponsors for the May Las Vegas event.

Oscar, who just turned 34 on Feb. 4, is one of those rare athletes who crosses all media boundaries and always makes for good copy.

There are lots of star athletes.

But like Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan and racer Jeff Gordon, Oscar has personality, charm and business sense that assures plenty of exposure even after his gloves have come off.

He's done "Got Milk?" magazine advertisements, lent his voice to his own cartoon likeness on "The Simpsons" and shared his favorite recipe for "Chicken with Green Salsa Tamales" with Martha Stewart on her daytime talk show.

In addition to being the only fighter in the history of boxing to win titles in six weight classes, he remains proud, yet humble, often talking about his life in poverty during his childhood (he always keeps a $1 food stamp in his wallet as a reminder of his family's early struggles), as well as his devotion to his late mother, who died of breast cancer at age 35.

He just celebrated his fifth wedding anniversary to Puerto Rican recording artist Millie Corretjer and is the father of four children.

Besides boxing, he's tried recording a CD and designing clothing. But as he told Stewart in her kitchen last September, his "true dream" is acting.

Join me

Just a reminder that I'll be hosting Sunday's bridal fashion show for The Times and our La Bella Vita bridal magazine from noon to 4 p.m. at Avalon Manor in Merrillville and hope to see you there. For more information, call (219) 865-8550.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at ppotempa@nwitimes.com or 219.852.4327.

celebBirthdays

Announcer Don Pardo is 89. Singer Dorothy McGuire of The McGuire Sisters is 81. Actor Paul Dooley is 79. Sen. Ted Kennedy is 75. Director Jonathan Demme is 63. Actor John Ashton is 59. Actress Julie Walters ("Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," "Billy Elliot") and basketball legend Julius "Dr. J" Erving are 57. Actor Kyle MacLachlan is 48. Comedian Rachel Dratch ("Saturday Night Live") is 41. Actress Jeri Ryan ("Boston Public," "Star Trek: Voyager") is 39. Actor Thomas Jane ("The Sweetest Thing") is 38. Actress Lea Solanga and actor Jose Solano ("Baywatch") are 36. Actress Drew Barrymore is 32. Singer James Blunt is 30. Former child actor Miko Hughes ("Pet Cemetery") is 21. Actor Daniel E. Smith ("John Q.") is 17.