Richard Schaefer, chief executive of Golden Boy Promotions, said Saturday morning that Forbes' pronouncements in an ESPN.com report that the fight has been finalized are premature.

"Ask him if he has a signed contract. He doesn't," Schaefer said.

Still, the promoter acknowledged East Los Angeles' six-time world champion and 1992 Olympic gold medalist De La Hoya, 34, will fight for "the final time in Los Angeles," at the Home Depot Center's 27,000-seat soccer stadium.

Home Depot Center boxing matches, such as the Israel Vazquez-Rafael Marquez fight coming March 1, are typically fought here.  Which by the way you can now place a prediction on.

De La Hoya had previously expressed interest in fighting at Dodger Stadium, but Golden Boy Promotions' business conversations with AEG officials on other deals led to the fight's placement at Home Depot.

An HBO official added, "It'd be amazing if any element of the agreement fell apart at this point." De La Hoya has routinely fought in pay-per-view bouts, but this will be an exception, as he prepares for a September rematch against unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Forbes (33-5, 9 KOs) was impressive in his last fight, gaining a split-decision triumph over former young star Francisco Bojado in an October Golden Boy Promotions card.