Eddie Alvarez is in negotiations with Oscar De La Hoya over a boxing match. The former UFC and Bellator lightweight champion made the revelation in an interview with ESPN that was posted earlier today.
Alvarez told Ariel Helwani that,
“Recently we’ve been hearing from Oscar De La Hoya’s guys. That’d be a hell of a fight and I’ve got everyone here in Philadelphia backing me,” he said.
Philadelphia has produced legendary boxers like Bernard Hopkins and Joe Frazier. So while Alvarez has never competed in boxing he wouldn’t have to look too hard to find suitable trainers or training partners in his hometown.
However he was quick to point out that his main focus was MMA and that he still hoped to win the ONE Championship lightweight title,
“I’m fixated on the ONE Championship belt. I’m laser focused on making history and getting my world title but I feel like there’s gonna be a lull. The champion is gonna sit for a bit, I think he’s having a baby. If that happens, Oscar De La Hoya and them guys have been reaching out and I’d love to get in there and mix it up with him.”
A bigger problem for Alvarez than champion Christian Lee’s potential absence is that he has lost two out of his three ONE Championship fights and is not even ranked in the top five at lightweight. At ONE on TNT last week he was controversially disqualified after repeatedly striking Iuri Lapicus on the back of the head and the American has made it clear he does not agree with that decision,
“It wasn’t the right decision (and) I’m looking to get it overturned. I just think it was the wrong call and it should be overturned,” he said.
While the boxing bout with De La Hoya might be a work in progress Alvarez does have something lined up. He told Helwani that he was hoping to fight before the end of the month,
“I’m going to fight this month. I don’t want to say it’s done but we’re damn near. No date or opponent, just know that you guys are going to see a lot more of me very soon before the end of this month.”
The 37 year old has already flown back to the US. But ONE on TNT Part IV is set for Singapore on April 28th (US time) and the fight card has not been announced so it sounds like he is hoping to compete on this date.
