Oscar De La Hoya teased fans last month with rumors of a comeback bid that seemed far-fetched to most boxing fans closely following the sport, but new rumors of a potential middleweight fight have more fruitful seeds of truth in them.
According to reports, De La Hoya is interested in pitting IBF middleweight champion David Lemieux in the ring with WBO and IBF champion Gennady Golovkin, in a fight between two of the most vicious punchers in boxing.
"It's a fight that interests me a lot," De La Hoya said. "There are a lot of options for Lemieux, but it is a very interesting fight that I like a lot.
"Golovkin is a fighter that perhaps can not fight as well going backwards, as he does when he goes forward. Against someone who throws so many shots and a puncher like Lemieux, that's why I find a Golovkin fight very interesting."
Golovkin has drawn comparisons to former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson not only for his heavy hands-he has knocked out 20 straight opponents, and stopped 31 of his 33 foes-but because he's feasted largely on lesser competition. It has not been for lack of trying, though.
Golovkin has repeatedly called out big names such as Miguel Cotto, Carl Froch, and De La Hoya's biggest fighter Canelo Alvarez to no avail. Lemieux doesn't have that kind of cache, but he is a fierce knockout artist himself with value to the hardcore fan. He also has a middleweight belt, and Golovkin's stated goal is to unify the entire 160-pound weight class.
Lemieux knocked Hassan N'Dam down six times in a unanimous decision win on June 20 in an impressive showing to earn the belt. Right now, the IBF may be the biggest impediment to a Golovkin matchup, as Lemieux may be required to fight a mandatory challenger in his first defense.
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