Boxing fans around the world experienced a recent letdown when it was revealed the rumored fight between heavyweight champions Mike Tyson and Tyson Fury wouldn’t be taking place anytime soon.
At 53 years old, Mike Tyson is set to return to the ring for a comeback fight. After 15 years without fighting in an official match, fans prepared for the announcement of Tyson’s opponent—but Tyson hasn’t been the only famous boxer to return to the limelight.
Amid speculation regarding who Tyson would face off against in his comeback match, Oscar De La Hoya also returned to public view to comment on the readiness of Tyson. De La Hoya made a bold claim that, despite his age and hiatus, Tyson could defeat current heavyweight champions like Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder, and Anthony Joshua.
As an unstoppable champion, Tyson commanded the attention of the American public and betting odds for heavyweight boxing during his undisputed reign from 1987-1990. However, De La Hoya was never in the same weight division as Tyson. In fact, he often played the white knight when compared to Tyson’s gritty style.
Unlike Tyson, De La Hoya moved between weight classes with ease, and his consistent ability to win saw him take home a cool $700 million from pay-per-view services in the late 90s. However, Tyson’s return to the boxing ring is sure to help him surpass De La Hoya’s previous pay-per-view records.
Comeback Exhibition Rumors
Since Tyson began posting videos of his exercise regime to his social media feed, fans have been eager for a comeback match. Now that Tyson is back in shape after over a decade of going under the radar, rumors have abounded that he may face Evander Holyfield for a third time.
However, what seemed most likely was a faceoff between Tyson Fury and Iron Mike, but a recent statement by Fury indicated that the boxers weren’t offered comparable compensations for the fight. Apparently, Tyson received offers of nearly $615 million, while Fury only garnered a $10 million offer from ESPN.
It remains to be seen who Tyson will fight in his comeback exhibition. To date, he’s also turned down an offer of $18 million for a bare-knuckle fight against MMA powerhouse Wanderlei Silva, as well as another offer to fight MMA star Tito Ortiz.
De La Hoya: Waiting for Tyson
While fans wait to see what decision Tyson and his management will make in terms of finding a suitable opponent for a comeback exhibition, De La Hoya has stepped forward to hint at his own interest in making a comeback.
The Golden Boy (as De La Hoya was once known) hasn’t strayed from the limelight since he retired from fighting in 2009. Since he hung up his gloves, De La Hoya has moved on to promoting boxing and MMA.
While he’s stayed close to the action as a competitor or promoter since he first stepped in the ring in 1992, fans would love to see De La Hoya return to the ring. His last fight took place in 2008 against Manny Pacquiao, where The Golden Boy’s illustrious career ended with a brutal defeat by Pacquiao.
In an interview with The Ring, De La Hoya said he plans to see how Tyson’s return pans out. Depending on whether or not Tyson can go three or four rounds, De La Hoya will have a better understanding of what his own body can handle now that he’s 47 years old.
At the same time, De La Hoya has never stopped training. He’s never stopped thinking about his 2008 defeat by Pacquiao. Though The Golden Boy has a few prerequisites for his opponent, such as weight and age, many have begun to hope for a massive exhibition match between De La Hoya and Conor McGregor.
Given McGregor’s 2017 defeat at the hands of Floyd Mayweather, the Irish UFC fighter may also interested in clearing his name in a big-name fight. Though McGregor retired on June 6th, he’s since heard rumors that De La Hoya thinks he wouldn’t last two rounds with him. McGregor responded quickly, saying he’s ready to sign on for that fight.
