Oscar De La Hoya says he’s serious about comeback

By Boxing News - 10/23/2020 - Comments

By Dan Ambrose: Oscar De La Hoya says he’s ready to return to the ring in the next six months to launch his comeback after 13 years out of the ring. The former six-division world champion will be turning 48-years-old on February 4th next year, and he hasn’t fought since 2008.

De La Hoya (39-6, 30 KOs) says he wants to face the best when returning to the ring at 154. In his last fight before retiring in 2008, he was pummeled by the much smaller Manny Pacquiao, losing to him by an 8th round stoppage.

De La Hoya breathing hard during Instagram live

If De La Hoya is going to come out of retirement, he will work on his stamina. Just walking around his house during the Instagram live session, De La Hoya was breathing hard in a way that suggests that his cardiovascular system isn’t where it needs to be.

Even when De La Hoya was standing still after a few steps, he was breathing hard. If Oscar is out of breath just shuffling around his house, what’s going to happen with him when he starts sparring?

De La Hoya ready to fight the best

Image: Oscar De La Hoya says he's serious about comeback

“I really, really am considering making a comeback,” said De La Hoya on Instagram. “And 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.”

It’s reasonable to assume that De La Hoya will give up on the idea of making a comeback during his first sparring session. When De La Hoya is wheezing, gasping for breath while getting battered by a youngster, he’ll likely give up on his comeback.

Oscar does look slimmer than before, but he still looks old, and it’s troubling that he’s breathing hard just standing still. That might be resistant to change at this point.

Oscar wants to follow in Foreman’s footsteps

It would be a good idea for De La Hoya to take his training very, very slowly because he could overdo it if he pushes his heart too hard. That 12 years of inactivity has put De La Hoya in shape he’s in today, and he’s not going to reverse that overnight.

YouTube video

“George Foreman did it at 49-years-old. I think I can do it as well,” said De La Hoya.

Foreman made his comeback at age 39, not 49. He beat IBF/WBA heavyweight champion Michael Mooer by a 10th round knockout in 1994 to become the oldest person to win a world title at age 45.

Foreman was a huge puncher during the first part of his career, and he still had a lot of power when he came out of retirement.