Tag: De La Hoya comeback

Oscar De La Hoya has COVID-19, Evander Holyfield to fight Vitor Belfort: report

Oscar De La Hoya has COVID-19, forcing him to pull out of his fight against Vitor Belfort on Sept. 11. Evander Holyfield will face Belfort.

Oscar De La Hoya has been hospitalized with COVID-19, forcing him to pull out of his pay-per-view comeback fight against Vitor Belfort on Sept. 11 in Los Angeles, TMZ is reporting.

Evander Holyfield, 58, will step in to fight Belfort in L.A. if the California State Athletic Commission gives him clearance, according to TMZ. If California officials don’t approve the matchup, it will be moved to Florida.

De La Hoya posted a video on social media to explain his situation. He said: “I wanted you to hear directly form me that despite being fully vaccinated, I have contracted Covid and am not going to be able to fight next weekend.

“Preparing for this comeback has been everything to me over the last months, and I want to hank everyone for their tremendous support. I am currently in the hospital getting treatment and am confident I will be back in the ring before the year is up. God bless everyone and stay safe.”

De La Hoya, 48, hasn’t fought since he was knocked out by Manny Pacquiao in 2008. Holyfield has been in the ring more recently, in 2011, when he stopped Brian Nielsen.

Holyfield has been a candidate to face Mike Tyson but the two were unable to reach a deal. Tyson faced Roy Jones Jr. in a successful exhibition this past November. The former heavyweight champ then moved on to Kevin McBride, who ended Tyson’s career. However, a Holyfield-McBride fight scheduled for June was postponed.

Belfort, a former MMA star, had told TMZ in June that he planned to fight Holyfield three months after his bout with De La Hoya. He had been targeting December for the fight with Holyfield.

Holyfield will turn 59 on Oct. 19. Belfort, a former MMA star, is 44.

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Oscar De La Hoya has COVID-19, Evander Holyfield to fight Vitor Belfort: report

Oscar De La Hoya has COVID-19, forcing him to pull out of his fight against Vitor Belfort on Sept. 11. Evander Holyfield will face Belfort.

Oscar De La Hoya has been hospitalized with COVID-19, forcing him to pull out of his pay-per-view comeback fight against Vitor Belfort on Sept. 11 in Los Angeles, TMZ is reporting.

Evander Holyfield, 58, will step in to fight Belfort in L.A. if the California State Athletic Commission gives him clearance, according to TMZ. If California officials don’t approve the matchup, it will be moved to Florida.

De La Hoya posted a video on social media to explain his situation. He said: “I wanted you to hear directly form me that despite being fully vaccinated, I have contracted Covid and am not going to be able to fight next weekend.

“Preparing for this comeback has been everything to me over the last months, and I want to hank everyone for their tremendous support. I am currently in the hospital getting treatment and am confident I will be back in the ring before the year is up. God bless everyone and stay safe.”

De La Hoya, 48, hasn’t fought since he was knocked out by Manny Pacquiao in 2008. Holyfield has been in the ring more recently, in 2011, when he stopped Brian Nielsen.

Holyfield has been a candidate to face Mike Tyson but the two were unable to reach a deal. Tyson faced Roy Jones Jr. in a successful exhibition this past November. The former heavyweight champ then moved on to Kevin McBride, who ended Tyson’s career. However, a Holyfield-McBride fight scheduled for June was postponed.

Belfort, a former MMA star, had told TMZ in June that he planned to fight Holyfield three months after his bout with De La Hoya. He had been targeting December for the fight with Holyfield.

Holyfield will turn 59 on Oct. 19. Belfort, a former MMA star, is 44.

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Oscar De La Hoya says he was raped as a young teenager

Oscar De La Hoya said he was raped by an older woman when he was 13 years old.

Hall of Famer Oscar De La Hoya told reporters in the lead up to his comeback fight against Vitor Belfort on Sept. 11 that he was raped by an older woman when he was 13.

De La Hoya, 48, said the incident took place at a boxing competition in Hawaii.

“I was raped at 13, from a woman, an older woman,” the Los Angeles Times quoted him as saying on Monday. “Thirteen, lost my virginity over being, you know, being raped, basically.”

He went on: “I was in Hawaii, I think, at some tournament. She was over 35.”

De La Hoya is coming to terms with childhood traumas, including the sexual abusee.

“You suppress everything,” he said. “You’re living this life, the Golden Boy, but, oh s—, wait, that’s still there. Like I never, like, thought about it, I never processed it, I never really thought how my feelings are … until one day it just comes out, and you don’t know how to deal with it.”

De La Hoya (39-6, 30 KOs) hasn’t fought since he was knocked out by Manny Pacquiao in December 2008.

He and Belfort, a 44-year-old former UFC champion, will fight on pay-per-view at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The fighters agreed to a weight limit of 185 pounds. De La Hoya never weighed more than 160 for any fight.

Belfort (1-0, 1 KO) had a single boxing match in 2006. He stopped Josemario Neves in one round in his native Brazil.

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Oscar De La Hoya says he was raped as a young teenager

Oscar De La Hoya said he was raped by an older woman when he was 13 years old.

Hall of Famer Oscar De La Hoya told reporters in the lead up to his comeback fight against Vitor Belfort on Sept. 11 that he was raped by an older woman when he was 13.

De La Hoya, 48, said the incident took place at a boxing competition in Hawaii.

“I was raped at 13, from a woman, an older woman,” the Los Angeles Times quoted him as saying on Monday. “Thirteen, lost my virginity over being, you know, being raped, basically.”

He went on: “I was in Hawaii, I think, at some tournament. She was over 35.”

De La Hoya is coming to terms with childhood traumas, including the sexual abusee.

“You suppress everything,” he said. “You’re living this life, the Golden Boy, but, oh s—, wait, that’s still there. Like I never, like, thought about it, I never processed it, I never really thought how my feelings are … until one day it just comes out, and you don’t know how to deal with it.”

De La Hoya (39-6, 30 KOs) hasn’t fought since he was knocked out by Manny Pacquiao in December 2008.

He and Belfort, a 44-year-old former UFC champion, will fight on pay-per-view at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The fighters agreed to a weight limit of 185 pounds. De La Hoya never weighed more than 160 for any fight.

Belfort (1-0, 1 KO) had a single boxing match in 2006. He stopped Josemario Neves in one round in his native Brazil.

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Vitor Belfort unlikely to return to MMA, sees boxing as more favorable for fighters

Vitor Belfort said he’s unlikely to return to MMA because boxing is more favorable for fighters.

[mm-video type=video id=01fe2cfgv6pvdd62evs6 playlist_id=01ex3c0gtj5213kdqg player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fe2cfgv6pvdd62evs6/01fe2cfgv6pvdd62evs6-6556421462e6cd67f32d738fbaa3eb60.jpg]

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on MMAJunkie.com.

***

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Vitor Belfort is enjoying his venture in boxing and he’s not looking back.

The former UFC champion sees a return to MMA unlikely and plans to finish out his fighting days in professional boxing. Belfort returns to competition Sept. 11 when he takes on former world champion and boxing Olympic gold medalist Oscar De La Hoya at a Triller event in Los Angeles. It will be Belfort’s second professional boxing match; he debuted in 2006 with a knockout win over Josemario Neves.

Although Belfort has stepped in the boxing ring before, the Brazilian made his fame and legacy fighting in the cage for the UFC and PRIDE.

MMA might hold a dear place in Belfort’s heart, but there are many reasons he has little interest in getting involved with the sport again.

“The answer is that it’s looking like (I’m) not (going to return to MMA),” Belfort told MMA Junkie. “It’s not changing or adapting to what we think it should. The rules are not there for us. They’re not adapting in a way that’s safe for the fighters.

“Right now, fighters are having a short career, and the more violent it is, the shorter it becomes. It’s better for the promoters, not so good for the fighters. Right now, and even (UFC president) Dana White has said it, this is a young man’s sport. But guess what? I’ll box any champion in MMA and I can beat them up in a boxing match.”

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Vitor Belfort unlikely to return to MMA, sees boxing as more favorable for fighters

Vitor Belfort said he’s unlikely to return to MMA because boxing is more favorable for fighters.

[mm-video type=video id=01fe2cfgv6pvdd62evs6 playlist_id=01ex3c0gtj5213kdqg player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fe2cfgv6pvdd62evs6/01fe2cfgv6pvdd62evs6-6556421462e6cd67f32d738fbaa3eb60.jpg]

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on MMAJunkie.com.

***

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Vitor Belfort is enjoying his venture in boxing and he’s not looking back.

The former UFC champion sees a return to MMA unlikely and plans to finish out his fighting days in professional boxing. Belfort returns to competition Sept. 11 when he takes on former world champion and boxing Olympic gold medalist Oscar De La Hoya at a Triller event in Los Angeles. It will be Belfort’s second professional boxing match; he debuted in 2006 with a knockout win over Josemario Neves.

Although Belfort has stepped in the boxing ring before, the Brazilian made his fame and legacy fighting in the cage for the UFC and PRIDE.

MMA might hold a dear place in Belfort’s heart, but there are many reasons he has little interest in getting involved with the sport again.

“The answer is that it’s looking like (I’m) not (going to return to MMA),” Belfort told MMA Junkie. “It’s not changing or adapting to what we think it should. The rules are not there for us. They’re not adapting in a way that’s safe for the fighters.

“Right now, fighters are having a short career, and the more violent it is, the shorter it becomes. It’s better for the promoters, not so good for the fighters. Right now, and even (UFC president) Dana White has said it, this is a young man’s sport. But guess what? I’ll box any champion in MMA and I can beat them up in a boxing match.”

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Oscar De La Hoya says he’ll weigh 10 pounds under 185-pound limit vs. Vitor Belfort

Oscar De La Hoya said he’ll weigh 10 pounds under the 185-pound limit when he fights Vitor Belfort.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on MMAJunkie.com.

***

If Oscar De La Hoya is a man of his word, Vitor Belfort is going to enjoy a quite significant size advantage in their Sept. 11 boxing match.

Speaking at an open workout session in Los Angeles, De La Hoya on Wednesday revealed that he’s already comfortably under the 185-pound limit set for the match but plans on shedding a few more pounds, as well.

“The weight limit is 185, but I’m going to come in at 175, strong like an ox,” De La Hoya said. “I’m at 180 right now.”

De La Hoya (39-6 Boxing), an Olympic gold medalist, hasn’t competed professionally since 2008 and never competed at a weight higher than 160 pounds, though the majority of his biggest wins came at 147 pounds or below.

Meanwhile, Belfort (26-14 MMA) won a UFC title at 205 pounds, though he did spend a significant portion of his career at 185 pounds, including his most recent appearance at UFC 224 in May 2018.

De La Hoya said he understands some people may see the size difference as a real problem, but he doesn’t feel the same.

“I’m the underdog because the bettors don’t believe in me, but I finally put the train back on the rails,” De La Hoya said. “I’m not a betting man or a gambler, but I would put a lot of money on me. I’m going to surprise people on how I do it. I’ve been training smart. I’ve been very motivated in training since we opened camp.”

De La Hoya and Belfort headline the Triller Fight Club event on Sept. 11 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, and “The Golden Boy” promises it will be a memorable affair.

“I’m going to give the fans a war,” De La Hoya said. “I’ve been studying Marvin Hagler vs. Thomas Hearns for a reason. I want a fight, a war.

“I have a good chin, and I can take the punch. I know Vitor Belfort has the same mentality.”

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Oscar De La Hoya says he’ll weigh 10 pounds under 185-pound limit vs. Vitor Belfort

Oscar De La Hoya said he’ll weigh 10 pounds under the 185-pound limit when he fights Vitor Belfort.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on MMAJunkie.com.

***

If Oscar De La Hoya is a man of his word, Vitor Belfort is going to enjoy a quite significant size advantage in their Sept. 11 boxing match.

Speaking at an open workout session in Los Angeles, De La Hoya on Wednesday revealed that he’s already comfortably under the 185-pound limit set for the match but plans on shedding a few more pounds, as well.

“The weight limit is 185, but I’m going to come in at 175, strong like an ox,” De La Hoya said. “I’m at 180 right now.”

De La Hoya (39-6 Boxing), an Olympic gold medalist, hasn’t competed professionally since 2008 and never competed at a weight higher than 160 pounds, though the majority of his biggest wins came at 147 pounds or below.

Meanwhile, Belfort (26-14 MMA) won a UFC title at 205 pounds, though he did spend a significant portion of his career at 185 pounds, including his most recent appearance at UFC 224 in May 2018.

De La Hoya said he understands some people may see the size difference as a real problem, but he doesn’t feel the same.

“I’m the underdog because the bettors don’t believe in me, but I finally put the train back on the rails,” De La Hoya said. “I’m not a betting man or a gambler, but I would put a lot of money on me. I’m going to surprise people on how I do it. I’ve been training smart. I’ve been very motivated in training since we opened camp.”

De La Hoya and Belfort headline the Triller Fight Club event on Sept. 11 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, and “The Golden Boy” promises it will be a memorable affair.

“I’m going to give the fans a war,” De La Hoya said. “I’ve been studying Marvin Hagler vs. Thomas Hearns for a reason. I want a fight, a war.

“I have a good chin, and I can take the punch. I know Vitor Belfort has the same mentality.”

[lawrence-related id=22859,22188,22170,22023,21168,21158]

Photos: Oscar De La Hoya open workout in Los Angeles

Photos: Oscar De La Hoya open workout in Los Angeles.

Photos: Oscar De La Hoya open workout in Los Angeles

Photos: Oscar De La Hoya open workout in Los Angeles.