De la Hoya Out, Evander Holyfield In Against Vitor Belfort On Sept. 11

Oscar De La Hoya‘s pro boxing comeback will have to wait.

TMZ Sports made the initial report that De La Hoya tested positive for COVID-19. This is despite the fact that “The Golden Boy” has been fully vaccinated. De La Hoya was scheduled to box former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Vitor Belfort on Sept. 11. He is being replaced by fellow boxing legend Evander Holyfield.

De La Hoya had the following to say on his removal from the Belfort fight.

“Preparing for this comeback has been everything to me over the last months, and I want to thank 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.”

Holyfield is 58 years old. He was initially expected to take on Kevin McBride in the co-main event of the Teofimo Lopez vs. George Kambosos card. The event ended up being scrapped after Lopez tested positive for COVID-19. Holyfield and McBride were reportedly unhappy with Triller for stalling on rescheduling their matchup.

Holyfield vs. Belfort will take place inside the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. It’ll be Holyfield’s first pro boxing match since May 2011.

Evander Holyfield had been eyeing a showdown with Mike Tyson. He even once told Brian Custer of Showtime that the bout was close to being a done deal.

“I think it will be a lot of money and a lot of millions. I think $100 million. The fight would be big because so many people want the fight,” Holyfield told Brian Custer on the Last Stand Podcast (via boxingscene). “We’re the top two guys people want to see. There’s no reason to do it with anybody else other than Tyson.

“The only thing that I hear people talking about [is] they want Tyson and myself. And you know, this is what the world wants to see. But you’re not in that situation, so you have to want to do it. So, I guess we have to come together and do it.”

It never materialized due to some issues Tyson had with Triller.