Oscar De La Hoya insists he is “very serious” about making a competitive return to boxing.
Six years after he retired, De La Hoya, now a successful promoter, says he feels like he in the best physical shape of his life and rates his chances of a comeback as 50/50.
The 42-year-old, a former six-weight world champion, hung up his gloves after losing to Manny Pacquiao in 2008, declaring at the time that “my heart still wants to fight, but when you physically can’t respond, what can you do?.”
However, De La Hoya says he feels in great shape and is giving consideration to stepping back inside the ring competitively to face either Floyd Mayweather or Gennady Golovkin.
“The only reason I would come back is because I miss the competition of fighting the very best,” De La Hoya told ESPN.
“I don’t have to come back for financial reasons or the lights or the glamour,” he said.
“Right now I feel the best I have felt in my life physically, emotionally, mentally because I haven’t touched alcohol for I don’t know how long.”
De La Hoya is yet to make up his mind on a return, but he is adamant that he feels ready to go again.
“I’m training. I feel great. But it has to be worth my while,” he added.
“Would I do it? I don’t know but I wake up every morning thinking that I can.
“I think about Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler. If they could do it, why can’t I?”
