DeLaHoya jumps into new ring

Produced by five-time Grammy Award winner Rudy Perez – who has worked with Christina Aguilera, Marc Anthony and Luis Miguel – the pop CD Oscar De La Hoya includes 10 songs in Spanish and three in English.

It features contributions from songwriter Diane Warren (the powerful "With These Hands") and the Bee Gees (the down-tempo shuffler "Run to Me," which also appears in Spanish as "Ven a Mi.").

"For me, this album had to be a true reflection of my multicultural background," said Mr. De La Hoya, whose parents were from Mexico. "In a way, this album is like me giving something back to my Mexican and Latin roots. But it also had to represent all of America – and not just because I was born here."

Mr. De La Hoya said he wanted the album's overall vibe to be warm and sensual, encompassing upbeat dance jams (the Santana-style "Para Amarte" and "Mi Amor") and ballads/boleros ("Estar Sin Ti," "Te Amo," "Amandonos," "Nunca Imagine").

EMI Latin, the label releasing the CD, is spotlighting song snippets on its Web site, emilatin.com, and on the singer's official Web site, oscardelahoya.com.

Mr. De La Hoya said his mother, ranchera song stylist Cecilia Gonzalez (who died of breast cancer in 1990), always wanted him to pursue a singing career, while his father's dream was for him to be a fighter.

Mr. De La Hoya plans to focus on his new career. "I most likely won't fight again until the middle of next year," he said. "When I go back to training for my fights, I'll take a break from my music."