Eddie Alvarez reveals ‘serious talks’ are underway for him to box Oscar De La Hoya in July

Decorated ONE Championship lightweight contender, Eddie ‘The Underground King’ Alvarez has stunningly revealed that “serious talks” are underway from him to take on the returning former world champion, Oscar ‘The Golden Boy’ De La Hoya in a July boxing match. 

Alvarez, a former UFC, BodogFIGHT, and Bellator champion featured just last week at ONE on TNT I — dropping a hugely controversial disqualification defeat to Iuri Lapicus in a potential lightweight title eliminator, after referee, Justin Brown called a halt to the fight in the opening round, claiming Alvarez had landed numerous strikes to the back of Lapicus’ head. 

Speaking at a recent Triller press conference promoting this weekend’s professional boxing match between YouTuber, Jake Paul and former ONE Championship and Bellator welterweight champion, UFC alum, Ben Askren — former boxing world champion turned promoter, De La Hoya claimed that he would be making his return to the squared circle in July for a boxing match — snapping a 2008 retirement. 

According to Alvarez, who spoke with ESPN MMA reporter, Ariel Helwani recently, representatives from De La Hoya’s team had reached out to him, and that talks were underway for him to clash with the 48-year-old in a July boxing match.

“Recently, we’ve been hearing from Oscar De La Hoya’s guys,” Alvarez said. “Look, I’m fixated on the ONE Championship belt. I’m laser, laser-focused on making history and getting my world title but I feel like there’s going to be a lull, the champion (Christian Lee) is going to sit (out) for a little bit — I think he’s having a baby.“

“If that happens (Lee sits out), Oscar De La Hoya and them guys have been reaching out and, hell, I’d love to get in there and mix it up with him. That would be a hell of a fight. I’ve got everybody here in Philadelphia backing me, and the whole of Philadelphia boxing to back me up to get in there and mix it up with that guy. It would be a dream come true — and I actually think I’d do pretty damn good against him. I’d be crazy excited about that if them guys figured that out.“

Alvarez maintains that talks between the two sides are “serious” — with intentions of sorting the fine details out as soon as this week, claiming that De La Hoya’s team had pursued other opponents, who may have priced themselves out of a deal.

“Oh they’re serious talks,” Alvarez explained. “They’re serious — like wanting to get a deal done this week serious. I believe they tried to get some larger names (to fight) and the larger names kind of outbid themselves, or they’re under contract. For me, I’ve been in and out Philly (Philadelphia) boxing gyms my whole career with pro boxers.“

“The last time (Oscar) De La Hoya went against a Philly guy, he got knocked out by a body shot,” Alvarez said. “Bernard Hopkins executed him. If he wants that to happen again, keep messing with another Philly guy.“

Alvarez, 30-8 as a professional mixed martial artist has scored notable career victories over the likes of Tatsuya Kawajiri, Toby Imada, Josh Neer, Roger Huerta, Pat Curran, Shinya Aoki, Patricky Freire, Michael Chandler, Gilbert Melendez, Anthony Pettis, Rafael dos Anjos, Justin Gaethje, and Eduard Folayang.

De La Hoya’s last professional boxing match coming back in 2008 in the form of an eighth-round stoppage at the hands of Manny Pacquiao. The 48-year-old Californian is a former six-weight world champion, sealing gold at the 1992 Barcelona summer Olympic games, scoring triumphs over the likes of Jeff Mayweather, Jorge Paez, John John Molina, Rafael Ruelas, Julio Cesar Chavez (x2), Pernell Whittaker, Arturo Gatti, Javier Castillejo, and Ricardo Mayorga.