In a move not many saw coming, Eddie Alvarez may be close to fighting former champion Oscar De La Hoya in a boxing ring.
Former UFC and Bellator lightweight champion Alvarez talked to ESPN about a potential clash with De La Hoya. At 48, De La Hoya recently discussed a return to the boxing ring after retiring in 2008. He confirmed his return in March during the Ben Askren-Jake Paul press conference.
“Recently we’ve been hearing from Oscar De La Hoya’s guys,” Alvarez said (h/t MMA Fighting). “Look, I’m fixated on the ONE Championship belt. I’m laser, laser-focused on making history and getting my world title, but I feel like there’s gonna be a lull. The champion is gonna sit for a bit—I think he’s having a baby. If that happens, Oscar De La Hoya and them guys have been reaching out and, hell, I’d love to get in there and mix it up with him. That’d be a hell of a fight and I’ve got everyone here in Philadelphia backing me, and the whole Philadelphia boxing [community] to back me up.”
Alvarez is coming off a loss against Iuri Lapicus at ONE on TNT 1 on April 7. In a controversial bout, Alvarez was disqualified following punches to the back of the head. Lapicus moved his head slightly and the blows the ref saw were enough to give a red card to Alvarez. Alvarez is 2-4 with one no-contest in his last seven fights, which started after he lost to Conor McGregor at UFC 205 in 2016. Since joining ONE in 2019, Alvarez is 1-2.
Making his boxing debut in 1992, De La Hoya has won gold in the junior-lightweight, lightweight, welterweight, and light-middleweight divisions. He has beaten some of the top fighters in the sport, like Julio Cesar Chavez, Arturo Gatti, Oba Carr, and Fernando Vargas. De La Hoya ended his career with a 3-3 record and lost his last fight to Manny Pacquiao via retirement.
De La Hoya has since founded Golden Boy Promotions. Feeling the itch to fight again, De La Hoya and his team are serious about an Alvarez fight. The latter does seem interested in a bout.
“Getting in there to mix it up with that guy would be a dream come true,” Alvarez went on to say. “I actually think I’d do pretty damn good against him. I’d be crazy excited about that if them guys figure that out.
“There’s serious talks. They’re serious like wanting to get a deal done this week serious.”
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