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De La Hoya, Belfort agree to exhibition boxing match

Valery Sharifulin / TASS / Getty

Oscar De La Hoya's return to the ring is set.

The former world boxing champion verbally agreed to face ex-UFC titleholder Vitor Belfort in an exhibition bout at a Triller event on Sept. 11, Triller CEO Ryan Kavanaugh told MMA reporter Ariel Helwani.

Contracts have yet to be signed.

The fight will likely take place in Las Vegas, sources told The Athletic's Mike Coppinger.

It'll consist of eight two-minute rounds, and De La Hoya and Belfort will wear 10-ounce gloves. De La Hoya's contracted weight is 175 pounds, while Belfort must weigh in at no heavier than 190 pounds.

De La Hoya, a former six-division champion, hasn't competed since a 2008 loss to Manny Pacquiao. He's become one of the top promoters in boxing since his retirement.

De La Hoya was originally in talks to make his return against retired MMA legend Georges St-Pierre, but UFC president Dana White didn't allow St-Pierre to accept the fight.

Belfort was slated to compete in an exhibition boxing match against social media personality Mike Holston on June 19, but the entire event was postponed until August after headliner Teofimo Lopez tested positive for COVID-19.

Belfort, who last competed in MMA three years ago in a knockout loss to Lyoto Machida, has one professional boxing match under his belt from 2006.

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