Oscar De La Hoya doesn’t see what Dana White can bring to boxing ‘other than him screaming and yelling’

Badlefthook.com

Oscar De La Hoya, who is busy with tomorrow night’s big Canelo Alvarez vs Daniel Jacobs fight on DAZN, has had plenty of media back-and-forth over the years with UFC President Dana White.

At this point, White apparently still thinks he’s going to try getting into boxing as a promoter, though it’s hard to imagine what fighters he might be able to get for his stable since everyone out there is already with somebody, and if you’re not making an initial major, major splash, it’s going to be tough to get going. (Ask 50 Cent. Ask Roc Nation. I know those guys aren’t Zuffa, but still.)

As for De La Hoya, he tried his hand at mixed martial arts with Golden Boy MMA, promoting a way past sell-by date third fight between Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell last November. The fight was pretty miserable to watch, and sold only about 40,000 at most on pay-per-view, even after they lowered the price of the pay-per-view to $40 late in the game because advance sales stunk.

De La Hoya appeared on The Luke Thomas Show with RJ Clifford on SiriusXM and was asked about where he stands with Dana White these days.

“I wish him all the best. I think he’s done a phenomenal job with the UFC,” De La Hoya said. “I have my opinions in the past on how I feel about the fighters getting treated by the UFC, but at this point in my life, I have so much on my plate, I’m sure he has lots on his plate. I think we should just move on and him worry about growing the UFC and I’m worrying about Golden Boy and making sure that boxing keeps a shining light on itself. We want to just continue making big fights.”

De La Hoya says he doesn’t really see anything different that White can add as a boxing promoter, if indeed Zuffa and White enter the boxing world.

“Boxing is a fragmented sport, yes, and at this point with our partners DAZN, with our partners at Golden Boy, we’re finding ways to make sure we continue growing the sport, make sure we take the sport to the masses,” he said. “But I don’t see any other formula that’s out that Dana White can bring to the table, other than him screaming and yelling and being vocal. That’s basically it.”

Asked if he had any advice to White on his planned boxing venture, De La Hoya basically verbally shrugged.

“Good luck. Be prepared for the ride of your life. Boxing is a roller coaster, and it’s sometimes not a fun one,” he said. “Most of the time, it’s a lot of fun. Just be prepared, and I wish him all the best.”