49-year-old boxing legend, head of the Golden Boy Promotions promotion company Oscar De La Hoya visited the boxing gym regularly last year, hoping to return to the ring. He even had a duel scheduled against Brazilian former UFC champion Vitor Belfort.
However, in the end, the comeback did not take place: Oscar fell ill with the coronavirus and was forced to withdraw from the fight, and Belfort entered the ring with another, larger and older legend, Evander Holyfield, and severely knocked out the veteran in the first round.
Now De La Hoya does not hide his joy that everything turned out that way.
“I’m glad I didn’t go out to fight this monster because he’s a big guy and he knows what he’s doing,” Oscar admitted. “He’s talented and at our age we can still throw punches. Everyone saw how he knocked out Evander Holyfield. I think in this case I dodged a bullet.”
“I was in great shape, but I must admit that I was lying to myself. When I sparred, I missed a lot of punches,” recalls De La Hoya. – My reflexes were in order, they were fast, just incredible. And yet I took too many punches in sparring, but I remained stubborn.
“Things happen for a reason,” he said. “I’m glad I didn’t get in the ring because he’s a big guy and he knocked out Holyfield. I’m glad I caught covid and didn’t fight him because of it. Now I can just relax and grow some more gray hair while promoting fighters.”
Earlier, De La Hoya said he was ready to sell his promotional company.
Source:
MMA Hour
