it would be big because the media chooses who to make big deals about... even though DLH has looked like utter **** since 2004
Casual fans would jump all over it, it's Oscar De La Hoya. If he fought Sergio we'd probably see Boxing's first ever mostly female crowd. The only thing I'd show intrest in would be an exhibition bout with Tito, just as a side show, but it would be intreuging.
He was no longer professional boxer after Hopkins fight - when he retired for the first time BTW. It doesn't help that he lost all his big fights (with exception of Mayorga if you count him) since that time. And by the end of this year he'll be inactive for 4 years and almost 40 y.o.
Ie only a small fraction of PPV buyers?! He would definitely break a million buys coming back against a contender or better.
The question is how big would De La Hoya be if he comes back. I think if he did came back he'd be at 168 lb division instead. He's a naturally big guy, and after being inactive for too long I don't think he'll be able to drop to 154 as easily as he wants.
Most knowledgable fans. Your Joe public would probably eat it up but would be soundly beaten by those fighters in the top echelons as it stands. In terms of revenue etc, yes, he probably would do well. In the grand scheme of things however, it would mean very little.
I respect DLH for staying out of the ring. That tells me he was in it to be the best. Sure a comeback fight would make some money from those die hard fans but he has other options to make money and doesn't need to get punched in the head to get paid. Boxing was more then just a pay day for him, he was ultra competitive and wanted to win. The chances of a comeback is zero to nil.
It would be huge. Specially if he came back to fight either Canelo or Chavez Jr. People forget how good DLH really was and great fighters like him always have something left specially if they did not take much damage throughout their career. I think he could still beat some top fighters at 154 and maybe 160. His last 2 performances I feel he tried to cut too much weight and that just ended up hurting him at his age. I wouldnt mind seeing him make a comeback at 154-160 with a lower level opponent and then go from there. Or did you all forget that he had given PBF his closest fight in years??