Tuesday 23 June 2015 13:24, UK
Oscar De La Hoya says he is ’50-50’ on making a return to the ring at the age of 42 to face Floyd Mayweather or Gennady Golovkin.
De La Hoya, who was the 1992 Olympic champion and won world titles at six different weights, lost a split decision to Mayweather in 2007.
His final bout before retirement was against Manny Pacquiao in 2008 and ended when De La Hoya retired on his stool at the end of the eighth round, a defeat which was his fourth in seven contests.
De La Hoya was inducted into the Hall of Fame last year and says he feels ‘great physically’ after two spells in rehabilitation clinics. He appears to have had a change of heart after suggesting recently that a comeback was not on his agenda.
"I feel amazing," De La Hoya said. "In my life right now, I have so much motivation. I am so hungry and so determined. I am young, I am healthy and I feel great... 42 is the new 32.
"I just feel good and when I walk the streets, everyone tells me, 'You have to fight Floyd again, you have to fight GGG. You can do it, you can do it'.
"I just feel great physically. I've been taking care of myself. I've been doing the Bernard Hopkins lifestyle. You can turn the clock back to a certain time.
I've been taking care of myself. I've been doing the Bernard Hopkins lifestyle. You can turn the clock back to a certain time.
"It's got to be worth my while but this is very serious. I have to make sure I am fighting the very best. I don't have to come back for financial reasons or the lights or the glamour.
“The only reason I would come back is because I miss the competition of fighting the very best.
"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?
“We both come from similar situations. We are both hungry for the competition, we're both ambitious. So you never know. At the same time, I wish time flies by so I don't have to come back."
