UFC two-division champion Conor McGregor is always up for a fight. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Conor McGregor 'accepts' challenge to fight Oscar De La Hoya

By Zac Wassink | Last updated May 7, 2020 6:51 PM ET

As ESPN's Steve Kim reported, legendary boxer Oscar De La Hoya recently told CBS Sports' "State of Combat" podcast that he would knock former UFC two-division champion Conor McGregor out in "two rounds."

De La Hoya turned 47 in February and hasn't fought a competitive boxing match since December 2008.

The outspoken McGregor, rarely one to stifle opinions about anything on his mind, responded via Twitter:

I accept your challenge, Oscar de la Hoya.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) May 7, 2020

McGregor, 31, last competed in the Octagon in January, when he soundly defeated Donald Cerrone in 40 seconds.

The Irishman's biggest payday from a fight came in August 2017, when he battled Floyd Mayweather in a highly anticipated boxing match. As Kim explained, that bout generated approximately 4 million pay-per-view buys.

Mayweather dominated most of the action before he stopped McGregor in the 10th round.

It's unknown when (or if) a fight between McGregor and De La Hoya would occur amid the coronavirus pandemic. Earlier in the day, ESPN's Ariel Helwani reported McGregor isn't returning to the UFC until he's assured fighters competing at shows such as the UFC 249 event planned for Saturday are safe.

According to Helwani, July is the earliest McGregor would attach his name to a UFC card.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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