Eddie Alvarez: ‘Serious talks’ for Oscar De La Hoya boxing match ongoing
It appears Eddie Alvarez could be the frontrunner to welcome boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya back in the ring.
De La Hoya, who held 11 titles throughout his 16-year boxing tenure, recently announced that he will be making a comeback on July 3 at a Triller Fight Club event. Reports have indicated that De La Hoya would like to face an MMA fighter. The 48-year-old hasn’t competed since a 2008 loss to Manny Pacquiao.
Alvarez, on the other hand, is coming off a disqualification loss to Iuri Lapicus at ONE on TNT I, in which the referee penalized Alvarez for illegal punches. Though Alvarez said he plans on making a quick turnaround, possibly later this month, he has something else in the works. Alvarez revealed Wednesday that De La Hoya’s team reached out, and he’d be more than excited for the opportunity to box him.
“Recently we’ve been hearing from Oscar De La Hoya’s guys,” Alvarez said on “Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show.” “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 going to be a lull. The champion (Christian Lee, who fights Wednesday night at ONE on TNT II) is going to sit for a little 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 would be a hell of a fight. I’ve got everybody here in Philadelphia backing me, and the whole of Philadelphia boxing to back me up to get in there and mix it up with that guy. It would be a dream come true, and I actually think I’d do pretty damn good against him. So I’d be crazy excited about that if them guys figured that out.”
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Alvarez said that De La Hoya’s team has actually reached out multiple times after they couldn’t come to an agreement with their initial choices, and they could get a deal done as soon as this week.
“Oh, they’re serious talks,” Alvarez said. “They’re serious, like wanting to get a deal done this week serious. … I believe they tried to get some larger names and the larger names kind of outbid themselves, or they’re under contract. For me, I’ve been boxing in and out of Philly boxing gyms my whole career with pro boxers.”
He continued, “The last time De La Hoya went against a Philly guy, he got knocked out by a body shot. Bernard Hopkins executed him. So if he wants that to happen again, keep messing with another Philly guy.”
