OSCAR DE LA HOYA has confirmed he will make his in-ring comeback on July 3 aged 48.
The boxing legend was demolished by Manny Pacquiao in his last bout back in 2008.
Now he has revealed he will be pulling on the gloves after a 13-year absence during Friday night’s press conference for the upcoming Jake Paul vs Ben Askren fight.
However, the six-weight world champion produced a mic drop instead of naming who his opponent will be.
De La Hoya finished his career with a record of 39-6, winning 11 world titles during that journey.
After hanging up his gloves, the American went on to become a successful promoter and has rising star Ryan Garcia under his Golden Boy Promotions banner.
He also previously had Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez before an acrimonious split – and the Mexican could be lured into a huge payday to face his fellow icon.
SunSport looks at five potential men De La Hoya could fight on on his comeback:
TRIPLE G
De La Hoya has already called out Gennadiy Golovkin, bizarrely claiming it would be ‘easy’ to beat the Kazakh warrior.
He told BoxingScene: “You know how easy GGG would be for me? Oh, my gosh.
“It would be a high-profile fight, that’s for sure.”
A nine-year age gap exists between the fighters with Golovkin, 38, still very much an active fighter.
But De La Hoya feels he is reaching the twilight of his career, and added: “He’s older as well.
“I always took a good shot and I always took apart fighters like him.
“In my mind it would be that easy. I would definitely consider it, that’s for sure.”
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CANELO
De La Hoya refused to rule out a fight against Saul Alvarez when discussing a ring return last year.
Although he did admit the man he promoted for a decade would be a huge challenge – although he never backs down from one.
De La Hoya said: “I don’t know. I’m crazy but not that crazy.
“Canelo is an amazing fighter, he’s the best, he’s a pound-for-pound champ, and he hits like a mule.
“You’re throwing me in the fire here. That’s a challenge.
“I never back down from anybody, but we’ll have to wait and see.”
McGREGOR
The icon called out UFC mega-star Conor McGregor last summer.
Notorious has never been one for the conventional, and he has also previously forayed into the boxing ring to famously fight Floyd Mayweather.
And if the money is right, who would be brave enough to bet against him being tempted to go one-on-one with De La Hoya – who insisted he would make short work of Notorious.
He told State of Combat: “Oh come on brother, two rounds [against McGregor]. One thing about me, I went for the kill, always.
“Look, McGregor, I love him in the Octagon, I respect him. I watch him all the time but the boxing ring is a whole different story.”
McGregor responded to De La Hoya’s threat, tweeting: “I accept your challenge.”
MAYWEATHER
Out of everyone on this list, Floyd Mayweather, who beat De La Hoya in 2007, is perhaps the man the returning legend wants most.
He lost that night via a split decision, and the drawing power of both men would guarantee big bucks for another showdown.
Mayweather has also been teasing some exhibition bouts and is expected to face YouTuber Logan Paul later this year.
Speaking to Fight Hub TV, Golden Boy said previously: “I’ve always prided myself in fighting the very best, and why go after the second-best?
“Why not go after the guy that beat [Canelo]? Why not go after [Floyd] Mayweather, for instance, in a revenge fight?
“That’s something that’s very intriguing. We’ll see how I feel, and then we’ll take it from there.”
DANA WHITE
We know, we know… It’s a crazy idea right?
But these two have a long history of bickering back and forth, so what better way to settle those differences than in the ring.
UFC president White has previously suggested he could outbox the likes of Tito Ortiz and may feel he has enough skills to compete with De La Hoya following his long absence from the ring.
It is by far the most out there name on the list, but if the emergence of Triller and their exhibition fights has taught us anything, money talks.
And a big payday and the potential to even raise a lot of cash for charity may be enough for these two to get it on.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
