Oscar De La Hoya Reverses Course, Says He’s Now ‘Very Serious’ About Comeback Fight Against Floyd Mayweather Jr. Or Gennady Golovkin
As the Inquisitr previously reported, retired boxer Oscar De La Hoya has made headlines recently for admitting that he has considered entering the square circle one more time to fight either Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Gennady Golovkin. After a few days of indecision, where De La Hoya flat-out claimed that he would never return, according to Boxing Scene, it appears the fighter who has won bouts in six different weight divisions is now “very serious” in wanting to fight yet again.
De La Hoya had this to say when speaking to ESPN’s Dan Rafael.
“It’s got to be worth my while but this is very serious. I have to make sure I am fighting the very best. I don’t have to come back for financial reasons or the lights or the glamour. The only reason I would come back is because I miss the competition of fighting the very best.
I want to fight one of them because they are the best and I always fought the best. That’s what boxing is all about — fighting the best… I think my two front-runners are Floyd and triple G.”
Mayweather stated earlier in the month that if Oscar wanted a rematch against him this coming September, Floyd would be willing to oblige. De La Hoya previously lost a split decision to Mayweather in 2007 in what was at the time the largest pay-per-view audience in history.
“I seen that little thing Oscar’s talked about, he’s coming back. I mean you know, I mean if he wants to we can rock and roll in September… He said he wanted a rematch, so if Oscar wants it he can get it.”
. @FloydMayweather says if @OscarDeLaHoya wants to come back he’ll fight him in September
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) June 17, 2015
Immediately after Mayweather said he’d be willing to fight Oscar, De La Hoya went on record.
“So, I hear Floyd wants to give me a rematch now. Our first fight had a rematch clause. It had to take place within the year. He retied a year, and one day. Look, I’m retired. I’m happy. I’m content. I’m never going back. I’m gonna continue growing Golden Boy.”
The change of heart by De La Hoya merely shows how competitive the founder of Golden Boy Promotions really is, and even at 42 years of age with a career record of 39-6, 30 KO’s, Oscar still believes he can put on a decent enough performance that will draw eyeballs to the screen.
“I do need a few months of training. I want to do this right. And whoever is there early next year, first quarter, I’m going to challenge. So we’ll have to wait and see who’s out there – whether it’s Floyd, whether it’s triple G. I’m thinking about Canelo [Alvarez] because he’s a very dangerous strong puncher. I’m not counting him out, but my two front-runners would be Floyd and triple G.
I’ve gotten everything taken care of — my rotator cuffs, my left hand, everything. I’m pain free. I just feel good and when I walk the streets, everyone tells me, ‘You have to fight Floyd again, you have to fight GGG. You can do it, you can do it.’
I just feel great physically. I’ve been taking care of myself. I’ve been doing the Bernard Hopkins lifestyle. You can turn the clock back to a certain time.”
There’s no doubt that a Mayweather-De La Hoya or De La Hoya-Golovkin matchup would bring massive hype to the sport, but with his advanced age and prolonged absence from the Sweet Science, is Oscar worthy of a fight with either one of the aforementioned champions?
Just the other day, Mayweather stated that his last fight would likely take place against Andre Berto or Karim Mayfield, though the omission may just be a ploy in order to lure a bigger name into the ring, per Bleacher Report. Golovkin remains in limbo at the moment regarding his next opponent, but it appears he will have a chance to go toe-to-toe with the winner of the Miguel Cotto-Canelo Alvarez winner if that fight materializes, as it is supposed to later this year.
What do you make of this? If De La Hoya were to return, does he stand a chance in the ring with either Floyd or triple G?
[Photo by Al Bello / Getty Images]
