Oscar De LA Hoya is out of his September 11 comeback fight against former UFC champion Vitor Belfort, due to a positive Covid-19 test.
Promoting company Triller, is working to finalize former world champion Evander Holyfield as Belfort’s new opponent in the main event. That card is currently set for the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
De La Hoya and Belfort were scheduled to meet in a professional contest featuring eight, two-minute rounds. It’s unclear if the ruleset will remain the same with Holyfield stepping in.
De La Hoya was set to return to the ring for the first time since 2008 when he lost to Manny Pacquiao by stoppage. The 48-year-old said he’s receiving treatment for Covid-19 in the hospital and expects to fight by the end of 2021. He added that he’s fully vaccinated against the virus.
Holyfield last competed as a professional in 2011, beating Brian Nielsen by 10th-round TKO. The 58-year-old reigned as the undisputed cruiserweight champion in the late 1980s and as the undisputed heavyweight champion in the early 1990s.
