Oscar De La Hoya TASS

Fully vaccinated Oscar De La Hoya hospitalized by COVID-19

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 9/3/21

As Alexander K. Lee and Damon Martin explained for MMA Fighting, combat sports legend and all-time great Oscar De La Hoya was scheduled to return to the ring Sept. 11 for a boxing match versus former UFC champion Vitor Belfort at Staples Center in Los Angeles. However, De La Hoya was ruled out of the contest after testing positive for COVID-19, and former world heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield is attempting to step in as a replacement for De La Hoya.

De La Hoya updated via Twitter that he is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 but nevertheless is receiving treatment in the hospital after the virus hit him hard.

Wanted you to hear directly from 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, & I want to thank everyone for their tremendous support. pic.twitter.com/0wKEnr5Jzv
— Oscar De La Hoya (@OscarDeLaHoya) September 3, 2021

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.
— Oscar De La Hoya (@OscarDeLaHoya) September 3, 2021

Holyfield, 58, hasn't fought since 2011, and TMZ Sports reports the California State Athletic Commission may not sanction a bout between the "Real Deal" and Belfort. TMZ adds, though, the fight could be relocated to Florida, where it would be permitted to occur on the second Saturday of September.

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