By Norm Frauenheim
Oscar De La Hoya and Vergil Ortiz start over with plans for Ortiz to come back against a fighter with a known name and a faded skillset.
De La Hoya confirmed that negotiations with Keith Thurman are proceeding before a news conference Thursday for the Floyd Schofield-Lucas Bahdi lightweight title fight Saturday in Chicago.
“It’s the fight being talked about,’’ De La Hoya told DAZN’s Chris Mannix.
Much of the talk, however, has been critical since news broke this week that a deal for Ortiz to fight Thurman is in the works.
“It doesn’t make much sense, but he’s the fighter with a name,’’ said De La Hoya, perhaps in response to what he’s been hearing.
De La Hoya hopes to put together the bout – the first in his reunion with Ortiz after a nasty legal battle — for a middleweight date in December on a card featuring David Benavidez’ homecoming in Phoenix.
The Benavidez card has become a popular destination for fighters looking to close out the year. Ryan Garcia, a Benavidez friend, has talked about the possibility.
Middleweight contender Jesus Ramos, of Casa Grande AZ, is expected to be on the card after pulling out of a September fight in San Diego because of suspected food poisoning.
A huge crowd is expected, all because of Benavidez, who returns to his hometown for the first time since he blew away David Lemieux more than four years ago at Desert Diamond Arena in suburban Glendale.
However, it’s not clear exactly when in December the Benavidez fight for a unified cruiserweight title against Michal Cieslak will happen.
Originally, it was planned for the 12th. Now, it might be moved to the 5th or 19th in an apparent attempt to avoid a potential scheduling conflict with Netflix’s Anthony Joshua-versus-Tyson Fury Dec. 11 in Cardiff, Wales.
In the UK, Joshua-Fury could actually happen in the early hours of Dec. 12. Whatever time it goes off, it is sure to dominate attention.
Meanwhile, the complaints about Thurman include his age. He’s 37-years old. He’ll be 38 in November. A former welterweight champion, he’s coming off a stoppage loss to Sebastian Fundora at junior-middle March 28 in Las Vegas.
The Fundora loss was his first at 154 pounds. He has yet to fight at 160. Ortiz would also fight at 160 for the first time.
“It’s not the fight I wanted, but it’s the fight that’s going to get made,’’ De La Hoya said, clearly aware that Ortiz’ fans demand a showdown with Jaron “Boots” Ennis.
But it looks as if that one will have to wait. Reportedly, Ennis hopes to unify the 154-pound title against International Boxing Federation champion Josh Kelly.
