Could Oscar De La Hoya seriously be considering a comeback? After watching the amazing 52-year-old Dewey Bozella achieve his life's dream and win a professional boxing match after spending 26 years in prison for a murder he did not commit, Oscar was moved to write on his twitter page – ''Bozella wins and has inspired me to make a comeback!!!!!''

Famously, it was a De La Hoya's own Golden Boy Promotions that was pivotal in helping Bozella obtain his boxing license after he initially failed a medical exam. Golden Boy fighter Bernard Hopkins helped train Bozella to pass his medical, and on the undercard of last Saturday's Hopkins vs Chad Dawson WBC light heavyweight title fight at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Bozella won a four round decision over the ironically named Larry Hopkins, a man 22 years his junior. 

Although Bozella - who has become a national celebrity in America since his pardon - is adamant that this was his first and last pro fight, it appears Oscar has difficulty being so resolute about his own boxing career.

De La Hoya turned his back on boxing after suffering a hammering for eight one-sided rounds at the hands of Manny Pacquiao in December 2008. At the time, Oscar's defeat was particularly shocking in that Pacquiao was significantly smaller than he was. As we now know, Pacquiao's size or lack thereof has no longer been a factor in his subsequent victories over Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Joshua Clottey, Antonio Margarito and Shane Mosley. 

In 2007, De La Hoya came desperately close to becoming the first man to defeat Floyd Mayweather Jr when he lost a split decision in a bout for the WBC super welterweight title. Many, including this writer, believe that Oscar won the fight that night, and when one takes into account how he drained himself to make the stipulated 145 lb weight limit for the Pacquiao fight, there is an argument to be made that had he fought Manny at a healthier weight things may have been different.

If some fight fans think along those lines, it is more than likely that De La Hoya himself shares the same opinion, and as a result may feel that he still has a couple of big victories left inside his 38-year-old body.

On the flip side, the inescapable fact is De La Hoya was 3-4 in his final seven bouts, also losing to Hopkins and Mosley, and barely getting by Felix Sturm. He looked great destroying a wide open Ricardo Mayorga in 2006, and went through the motions outpointing Steve Forbes for his last ever victory in 2008.

In an episode of HBO's 24/7 prior to the Floyd Mayweather vs Victor Ortiz WBC welterweight title fight, De La Hoya was seen admitting that in his opinion he was ''done'' when he fought Mayweather in 2007. Freddie Roach claimed he knew Pacquiao would defeat De La Hoya in 2008, because he believed Oscar was a ''shot'' fighter. 

Earlier this year, Oscar made headlines the world over when he admitted he was going into rehab, although at the time he did not disclose for what reasons. He has subsequently admitted in interviews both in English and Spanish on the Ring Magazine website that he was in fact addicted to both alcohol and cocaine. He said he had suffered from alcohol addiction for many years, but the drug problem had only surfaced since his retirement.

Oscar claims he has won his battle with his personal demons for now, but is intelligent enough to admit that it is the biggest fight of his life, and one that will never end. His hinting at making a comeback may be based on his need to focus himself both physically and mentally in a way that only preparing for a major boxing match can.

Boxing history is littered with great fighters that partied hard in between bouts, yet were stone cold sober once they entered training. It is possible that subconsciously Oscar knows nothing would keep his mind away from the temptation of booze and drugs like preparing for a comeback.

Supposedly, Golden boy CEO Richard Schaefer told ESPN's Dan Rafael that De La Hoya might "give it one more go". According to Rafael, Schaefer went on to say "Just always remember, sports is entertainment, and when it comes to entertainment, Oscar is No. 1. No question about it. There are a lot of other people in boxing who, frankly, should retire before Oscar does, from promoters to refs to judges. If Oscar really wants it, and devotes himself 1,000 percent, he can still beat anyone. I really believe that from the bottom of my heart."

There are three ways of looking at Schaeffer's statement. A) Although Schaefer is supposed to be Oscar's friend and business partner, he is quite happy to let a 38-year-old who will have been out of the ring for four years, and who lost two of his last three fights, step back into the cauldron of professional boxing because of the millions he knows such a bout would generate, B) knowing De La Hoya like he does, Schaefer is probably aware that if Oscar  decides to come back, there will be no talking him out of it, or C) Schaefer, who lets face it is a Swiss banker, not a boxing man, is so star struck by the De La Hoya legend that he really does believe that Oscar can still beat anyone.  

If Oscar were to come back, one would imagine that the 154 lb class would suit him most. How would a fully fit but 38-year-old De La Hoya fair against the current light middleweight champions, Miguel Cotto (WBA), Saul Alvarez (WBC), Corneluis Bundradge (IBF) and Zaurbek Baysangurov (WBO)?

If De La Hoya could get himself close to the shape he was in when he fought Mayweather in 2007, and that would be a very big ''if'' indeed, he would still be capable of handling any light middleweight in the world, except possibly Saul Alvarez. 

Some fans site Sugar Ray Leonard's disastrous comeback at the age of 40 that saw him TKO'd for the first time in his career by Hector Camacho as an omen against any De La Hoya comeback. However the difference between De La Hoya and Leonard was that Oscar took his punch with him up the divisions, while Leonard was never the same explosive puncher after he left the welterweights. 

Once Ray's reflexes and timing left him, there really was nothing left. If De La Hoya was campaigning at 154 pounds today, he would be the biggest puncher in the division, especially with that trademark left hook.

The bottom line is that the last thing this writer wants to see is the man I want to lead boxing for many years to come risk possible brain damage by taking one too many punches to the head. Right now we have an Oscar De La Hoya who is as sharp and intellectual and articulate as any other athlete from any other sport in the world.  

All I am saying is that if De La Hoya does indeed decide to make a comeback, I do not see him embarrassing himself, and he may even surprise a few people.