Oscar De La Hoya tests positive for COVID-19, boxing return halted

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Oscar De La Hoya's return to boxing after more than a decade will have to wait.

On Friday, news broke that the Golden Boy tested positive for COVID-19 and is out of his Sept. 11 fight against former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort in the main event of a Triller Fight Club card.

The 1992 lightweight Olympic gold medalist, now 48, hasn’t fought since a career-ending defeat to Manny Pacquiao after eight rounds on Dec. 6, 2008. De La Hoya was set to step back into the ring for the first time this month, even as he questioned if that type of celebrity fight is good for the sport.

During his career, De La Hoya (39-6) won 11 world titles across six weight classes. In 2002, he became a boxing promoter with the founding of Golden Boy Promotions, and in 2018, he became a mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter who backed a trilogy bout between longtime rivals Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz.

On Friday, shortly after the news broke, De La Hoya shared on social media a photo of himself lying in a hospital bed.

"I mean, what're the chances of me getting COVID? I've been taking care of myself, and this really, really kicked my ass," he said. 

De La Hoya did end on a positive note, saying that he hopes to recover quickly and get back into the ring before 2021 is over. 

Here's how the sports and boxing world reacted to Friday's news.