De La Hoya comeback legit?

We already know that former World Heavyweight Champs, Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield are both wanting return to the ring and now, one of the most famous fighters of the last 25 years apparently wants to join in for a comeback

Or does he?

Earlier this week, the owner and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar De La Hoya, began to talk about his own fighting aspirations in a podcast interview with Sports Illustrated and DAZNs Chris Mannix:

Column: @OscarDeLaHoya is still planning a ring return. He wants Floyd Mayweather Sr. to train him. And he wants a big fight. Could De La Hoya’s return come against Canelo? I asked. https://t.co/SI8T2Q55C1

— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) July 17, 2020

The six division World Champ De La Hoya, who turned 47 earlier this year, has not been in the ring since Manny Pacquiao defeated him in his final fight in December of 2008.

12 years.

And by his own admission, he has been at times in recent years near 200 lb. or roughly, more than 50 lb. above his fighting weight. However, partially motivated by the limelight that Tyson and Holyfield have been getting in recent months, but also, by the desire to simply get back into shape, De La Hoya has now been training, sparring, etc. in Pasadena, CA.

And, he told Mannix that he’s increased his workload for the last couple of months in what he claims is a genuine hope to return to the ring,

“Before I wanted to do it, but I just couldn’t do it. I couldn’t pull the trigger. I couldn’t wake up in the morning. I couldn’t take myself to the gym and spar six rounds. Now it’s like I have this motivation to do it for myself, to prove to myself that I can do it. And so we’ll see what happens.

Further, he made clear that the father of  Floyd “Money” Mayweather would be the only option for his hopes to get into boxing ring,

“Floyd Mayweather Sr. is the only trainer that can tell me to wake up at five in the morning, is the only trainer who can push my buttons and make me work hard and smart,” De La Hoya said. “I would actually go to him and humbly ask him if he can do this favor for me.” 

De La Hoya lost a disputed split decision to Mayweather Jr. in May of 2007.

De La Hoya further made clear in the podcast that if he goes to Mayweather Sr. for a next level of training, that his intent is not an “exhibition,” but a return against a credible opponent in the ring.

All of that remains to be seen.

On the business side, De La Hoya’s Golden Boy and DAZN streaming have suffered mightily during the Covid-19 shutdown for over four months. This, as they have yet to have a fight card since back in early March.

That will change next Friday night, when unbeaten Welterweight Vergil Ortiz will headline for Golden Boy on DAZN, without fans in Indio, California.

Still, they have yet to schedule fights for their marquee fighters, four division World Champ, Canelo Alvarez and up and coming Lightweight contender, Ryan Garcia. Both fighters currently have icy relationships with the strong willed, De La Hoya.

While we wait for those relationships to mend, and fights to be scheduled, if they will be, now we wait to see how serious Oscar is about actually fighting, too.