The federal government provided loans to struggling companies during the COVID-19 pandemic through its PPP program. Among those receiving millions in federal help include boxing promotions companies led by Floyd Mayweather, Oscar De La Hoya and Bob Arum, as well as teams in NASCAR, IndyCar and the MLS.

On Monday, data was released that showed the recipients of these loans, although specific dollar amounts were not given. The three boxing organizations requested loans between $350,000 and $1 million. What is interesting here is that in the case of Mayweather, last year he was named the highest-paid athlete during the decade of the 2010s as he made around $915 million.

The Seattle Sounders, Inter Miami, Orlando City, and D.C. United are teams from the MLS who received loans. There are rumors that other clubs received loans from the government. 

Other notable sports organizations that applied for PPP loans include: 

• National Women’s Soccer League
• 32 U.S. Olympic Sports Organizations 
• The BIG 3 
• Numerous NASCAR Teams
• Almost Every IndyCar Team Except Team Penske
• Several Esports Organizations
• 4 NCAA Conferences:
  • Conference USA
  • The Big South Conference
  • The Southland Conference
  • The BigSky Conference

In recent months, there have been rumours of various retired boxers considering comebacks into the ring. Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield are among some of the notables, but now boxing fans can add Oscar De La Hoya to the list of boxers considering making a return.

In speaking with The Ring, the 47-year old De La Hoya was asked about him making a comeback and whether or not he has considered it. “I’m really considering it,” he said. “It doesn’t matter. Anybody, anybody who is the best out there. I still have that mentality. It would be at 160. … If it’s at 154, maybe someone coming up from 147. Any top, top, top guy at 147. It doesn’t really matter.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8yYvGrd5v0&feature=emb_title

De La Hoya did mention that he has been training, but was nowhere near in fighting shape, but he would want to see how Tyson does in the ring before he steps back in. “I actually want to see what Tyson does first,” he said. “I have been working out, I have been training, I have been staying in shape. Obviously, I’m not in fighting shape yet to go 12 rounds. I’m sure I could get there. We’ll see. I want to see Tyson perform, see how his reflexes are, see if he can go past three or four rounds. We’ll see and then I’ll make my decision.”

In his career, De La Hoya was a world champion in six different weight classes, retiring with a 39-6 record, which includes 30 wins by TKO. There have not been any fights announced but there is potential for something by the end of year if the coronavirus pandemic is brought under control.

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Boxing icon Oscar De La Hoya has been in a war of words with UFC superstar Conor McGregor for a while now and it is now starting to ramp up.

When asked how he would do in a fight versus McGregor, De La Hoya said that it would take “two-rounds” to knock out McGregor.

McGregor was quick to respond, saying on Twitter that he accepts De La Hoya’s challenge.

The 47-year old De La Hoya has not fought since defeating Manny Pacquiao in 2008, retiring the following year. He finished his career with a 39-6 with 30 knockouts. 

If a fight were to take place, there is the potential for it to be of the magnitude of when McGregor took on Floyd Mayweather in 2017, a fight that saw McGregor lose after ten rounds. That fight generated over $600 million in revenue. Would a De La Hoya vs. McGregor fight be of that scale, no, but it would definitely be worth watching by fans.

McGregor last fought in January, taking down Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in round one in a UFC event.

Oscar De La Hoya was arrested early Wednesday on suspicion of drunk driving after he was stopped for speeding in Pasadena, officials stated.

Ex-Boxing Champion Oscar De La Hoya Arrested On Suspicion Of DUI In California

The 43-year-old former world boxing champion and Golden Boy Promotions chairman, who has struggled with post-retirement addiction issues, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol level above 0.08.

According to the California Highway Patrol, De La Hoya failed several field sobriety tests.

“As for his [blood alcohol content], he was over the legal limit of 0.08%,” said Officer Xavier Bejar, a CHP spokesman in Altadena.

The Land Rover De La Hoya was driving at the time of his stop for speeding, according to local authorities, also had mechanical violations, although the CHP report did not describe those.

While the officer spoke to De La Hoya, he “detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from inside the vehicle,” according to the CHP.

The Hall of Famer, who holds dual Mexican and American citizenship, was scheduled to attend a press conference Wednesday in Indio, California for his World Boxing Council super-featherweight champion Francisco Vargas, who will fight Saturday at Fantasy Springs Resort and Casino, although a spokesman said Wednesday that De La Hoya was no longer expected.

De La Hoya has entered rehab at least twice since retiring after his loss to Manny Pacquiao in 2008. Although he declared himself clean in an interview with the LA Times in 2015, he has appeared intoxicated in a few recent video interviews on TMZ.

In one interview, De La Hoya slurred his words while describing a mythical fight between his star fighter, Canelo Alvarez, and UFC star Conor McGregor. 

NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 01: Oscar De La Hoya promotes a fight between Canelo Alvarez and Amir Khan during a press event at the Hard Rock Cafe on March 1, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)