Oscar De La Hoya Wants To Fight ‘The Very Best’ Upon Return

Oscar De La Hoya isn’t interested in taking the easy route for his return.

De La Hoya, who has won multiple world championships throughout his boxing career, is looking to make a comeback. De La Hoya hasn’t competed since December 6, 2008, when he was stopped by Manny Pacquiao in the eighth round. De La Hoya announced his retirement just four months after the Pacquiao fight.

At the age of 47, De La Hoya feels he can mix it up with “the very best” boxing has to offer. Here’s what he told fans during a recent live stream on Instagram (via BoxingScene.com).

“I really am considering making a comeback. I have been training. I seriously feel incredible. I feel amazing. With me, I always fought the very best, and why not? If I make the comeback in the first quarter of next year, by the way, I have slimmed down 20 pounds, it’s going to be against the very best, like always.

“None of this ducking fighters like the way fighters duck everyone today. They make it impossible because they price themselves out. It’s a huge problem … George Foreman did it, and I think I can do it as well … I feel like a million, million bucks. It’s crazy.”

With the success of Golden Boy Promotions, many have wondered why De La Hoya would want to return to the ring. The 1992 Olympic gold medalist hasn’t been shy in expressing his belief that the sport of boxing has been knocked on its rear thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. He’s hoping his return shakes things up.

As of now, De La Hoya’s pro boxing record sits at 39-6. In 30 of those wins, De La Hoya scored a knockout or TKO. De La Hoya has only been stopped twice in his career. Those stoppages were at the hands of Pacquiao and Bernard Hopkins.