In his post-fight interview, Floyd Mayweather confirmed his intention to retire from boxing unbeaten, claiming there is "nothing else to prove." Sure, there are some big marquee fights out there for him at welterweight/light or middleweight, but none of them has the star value or legacy-boosting effect as Oscar De La Hoya.

Indeed, the Golden Boy's "seal of approval" boosted pay-per-view sales to new heights, breaking the previously unreachable two million buys barrier by some distance (2.15m), and enabling a $120m gross figure, of which De La Hoya is believed to be pocketing $45m and Mayweather a mere $20m. After a split decision, could both men turn down the prospect of another potential bounty?

In De La Hoya’s case, quite easily. Yes, he looked in great shape for this fight, spurred on in training by Mayweather’s trash talk and honed in sparring sessions with the world-class Shane Mosley. Perhaps he may have defeated anyone else at 154lbs. However, at 34, and now a loser in three of his last fights, was this event a last hurrah?

With tons of money in the bank, what is De La Hoya’s motivation to keep fighting? At his age, and considering the fights he’s been in, pride alone isn’t a spur to keep pounding the extra road miles and getting mentally right. Unless it is for a re-match with Mayweather, which he would almost certainly lose, I would be delighted to see Oscar hang is gloves up now, whilst still at the top of his game. His wife Millie and business partner Richard Schaefer have suggested as much; De La Hoya really doesn’t have anything more to prove (although as a businessman, the money is surely tempting).

You could say less, possibly, for Mayweather. Despite the unblemished fighting record and impressive scalps, perhaps there is more for him to prove to fight fans. The Pretty Boy believes he is now the greatest, but whether boxing critics will mention Floyd Mayweather with the likes of the Sugar Ray’s and Ali’s of this world is debatable.

One reason is because, unlike the similarly uber-confident Ali, Mayweather has never come across as particularly affable. His humility never shows. Yet the fans adhere to characters to whom they  can connect.  indeed, it is a mark of greatness, something that De la Hoya has in buckets. The Golden Boy is certainly a winner but also "a great loser" and the people love that.

Whereas, technically, Mayweather’s style is excellent, it does not cover him with salutation. From a legacy perspective, finding a way to win by any means necessary may hurt him. Much like sumo aficionados, who expect their elite Yokozuna class to meet wrestlers head-on without exception, boxing commentators measure greatness by those who take defining fights to their opponents. There is also the suggestion that Mayweather’s camp strategically picked opponents to suit his style whilst also aiding his career forwards in the process.

Although it is an unlikely for any boxer to change their fighting style, perhaps there are fights that could cement Mayweather’s legacy once and for all. A match up with ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley is one option, but one that Mayweather’s management have already ruled out; a combination of money issues (citing Mosley’s dubious box office value) and the result of an earlier fall-out when Mosley turned down a fight with Mayweather at contrasting points of their respective careers. As it’s Mosley now calling out Mayweather, the Pretty Boy responded in typical fashion: "I don't care what no sparring partner has to say".

A potentially bigger and more anticipated contest could be in the shape of Miguel Cotto. The hard-hitting Puerto Rican has been suggested before and the Mayweather camp has always passed it up. Perhaps they see a dangerous proposition to Mayweather, but it really would help his lasting legacy.

Otherwise, maybe the hard cash of Mayweather v De La Hoya II is the only fight that can tempt the Pretty Boy out of retirement. Either way, it’s certainly a premature decision given his age (30) and being at his peak. I suppose we will believe it when we see it, or indeed, don’t see it.

Will Pretty Boy be tempted by a second De La Hoya fight? Add your comment below or write an article for Sportingo.