Returning fighter Oscar De La Hoya has been issued with a new boxing federal ID as he continues his plans to get back into the ring.
The 48-year-old former champion last fought in 2008 when he was defeated by Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas but has been trailing a comeback for some time, and now the state of California has issued him with an ID which remains valid for the next five years.
An ID is not a guarantee that he will be issued with a boxing licence by whichever commission hosts the American’s next fight, but given Mike Tyson was issued with a licence at six years his senior it seems likely that he would also be given the go-ahead for any fight.
De La Hoya fought across six weight classes from 1992 to 2008, and won 11 world titles.
In 2002 he launched Golden Boy Promotions. The company currently has five world champions on its roster: Patrick Teixeira, Rene Alvarado, Joseph Diaz, Xu Can and Wanheng Menayothin, as well as Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Ryan Garcia.