Beneath the tweet was a video of Oscar De La Hoya in his hospital bed looking disoriented.

Oscar De La Hoya, the one-time face of boxing, tested positive for COVID-19 and has been hospitalized.

Before he got COVID, he was on the cusp of an unlikely comeback. The CEO of Golden Boy Promotions is 48. He hasn’t fought in a dozen years. He’s toyed with idea, both privately and publicly, as former champions do. But De La Hoya was serious, not as serious as COVID, but serious enough to fight ex-UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort on September 11 at the Staples Center in LA.

De La Hoya tweeted from his hospital bed, “Wanted you to hear directly from me that despite being fully vaccinated, I have contracted Covid and am not going to be able to fight next weekend. Preparing for this comeback has been everything to me over the last months, & I want to thank everyone for their tremendous support.”

Beneath the tweet was a video of Oscar in his hospital bed looking disoriented. He said in a muffled, unrecognizable voice, “What are the chances of my getting COVID? I've been taking care of myself. This really, really kicked my ass.”

COVID doesn't mess around. Like boxing, it takes no prisoners.

Former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield, also inactive for a decade, will replace De La Hoya.

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“I’m 58, but I feel like I’m 28,” he said. “A healthy mind and body is a recipe for longevity and happiness.”