Oscar De La Hoya promises that history will not repeat itself when takes on Steve Forbes on May 3 in Carson, California. The former six-division champion is referring to his 2004 bout with then WBO middleweight champ Felix Sturm.

Sturm was placed in as a "safe" tuneup opponent for De La Hoya's bout with Bernard Hopkins. The bout was far from safe and De La Hoya, who appeared to be in bad shape, was lucky to win a decision that most ringside observers felt should have gone to Sturm. De La Hoya makes no excuses and says that he overlooked Sturm and didn't train hard.

Now he's back in the same position. Another "safe" tuneup opponent in Forbes, and a potential rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr. in September. This time, he claims to be focused on Forbes and no other fight. In the last few days, De La Hoya has been talking up the rematch with Mayweather and even mentioning a December fight with Miguel Cotto. Is De La Hoya overlooking Forbes or playing mind games to make Forbes think he is?

"Forbes says that I'm overlooking him and thinking about Mayweather, but I'm not," De La Hoya said. "Now that Floyd Mayweather Sr. is back in my corner, he's taken me to another level. We have a good connection. Forbes is thinking about an upset, but I assure you that I am very focused on this fight and I am going to look for a knockout."

"I've trained very hard for this fight. Against Sturm I didn't feel like a winner, I felt like a loser. I didn't prepare well and that's a mistake I will never make again."