By: Sean Crose
“I’m not suing him for cash, he’s not suing me for cash.” So stated Golden Boy Promotions honcho Oscar De La Hoya on Wednesday whereas being interviewed on The MMA Hour. “I simply need him to honor my contract. That’s it.” De La Hoya was speaking about his former protégé, Ryan Garcia, who he’s now engaged in a authorized battle with. “Simply honor your contract,” De La Hoya continued. “That’s it. You have got obligations, proper? I need you to battle. I need you to be a legend.”
As De La Hoya sees it, he’s been searching for the favored Ryan Garcia, regardless of what Garcia, who feels Golden Boy promotions has been derelict in its duties, could consider. “Do you assume I wished him to battle Tank Davis with a rehydration clause?,” he asks rhetorically . “Hell no. I’m searching for him, however he has folks which might be whispering in his ear. ‘Oh, Oscar is dangerous. Go along with this different promoter who will maintain you extra. You’ll make more cash.’” To De La Hoya, such whispers are nonsense.
“Guess what?,” De La Hoya asks rhetorically. “Ryan simply made 30 million plus {dollars}. I’m not doing something incorrect right here. I’m attempting to create a legend. What higher particular person than me to information your profession, to mildew you into this famous person boxer who folks will respect. However all these whispers, man, all these whispers.” In the end, nevertheless, De La Hoya indicated he’s prepared to take all of it in stride.
“Look,” he stated, “I’m a promoter, and I’m gonna be a promoter till I’m Bob Arum’s age…I really like the game. I really like boxing. It gave me all the pieces I’ve. I hate it, however I find it irresistible. And fighters come and go.” But De La Hoya additionally makes it clear that he’s prepared to work once more with Garcia. “Yeah,” he says, “completely. I nonetheless have a number of years on this contract.”
De La Hoya is a busy man in the intervening time. Other than the authorized friction between himself and Garcia, he’s the topic of an upcoming documentary on HBO. “In case you are a fan,” he tweeted on Tuesday, “a hater, a misplaced soul or simply a person who’s completely satisfied and determining life at some point at a time, a Doc. About my life will debut on HBO Max 24 and 25 of this month. Let’s simply say that each one the shit you speak about me is nothing in comparison with what I lived.”