Oscar De La Hoya loved UFC 306, however that didn’t change his thoughts about Dana White.
For the previous a number of years, De La Hoya and White have taken pictures at each other by the media over all method of issues. Nevertheless, if there’s one individual in fight sports activities De La Hoya is on worse phrases with, it’s his former fighter Canelo Alvarez. So this previous weekend, when Alvarez fought Edgar Berlanga, going head-to-head with “Noche UFC” in Las Vegas on Mexican Independence Day weekend, the boxing Corridor of Famer declared he would attend UFC 306 as a substitute of the boxing occasion.
Apparently De La Hoya did simply that, and quite loved himself at Sphere.
“UFC Noche. I used to be true to my phrase,” De La Hoya mentioned on Instagram. “I did attend final Saturday. I sat in [Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority] Turki [Alalshikh’s] field upstairs and I’ve to be sincere with you, it was stunning. It was spectacular. It appeared actually cool. The manufacturing worth was there, every little thing was wonderful. The fights had been truly actually good. So congratulations to Turki for footing the invoice on this and making this celebration of the Mexican tradition come to life.
“And Dana, I do know this wasn’t your concept or imaginative and prescient. Nothing ever is on the UFC. You’re the Fertitta’s errand boy. However I’m all the time sincere and honest, and I need to reward the manufacturing. UFC Noche was a superb time and I actually loved it.”
A part of the manufacturing concerned in UFC 306 was telling the historical past of Mexico by a number of vignettes performed on Sphere’s screens. One chapter centered on Mexico’s historical past in fight sports activities, which even included De La Hoya.
However whereas De La Hoya loved UFC 306, the identical can’t be mentioned for the Canelo vs. Berlanga combat. The bout obtained substantial criticism beforehand as Canelo was an enormous favourite, and that bore out on Saturday night time as Canelo received a large unanimous determination, even dropping Berlanga within the third spherical.
As a result of Canelo was unable to complete Berlanga regardless of the perceived hole between them, De La Hoya excoriated the pound-for-pound standout.
“So far as the motion, I known as it prematurely. One other combat that went the space with none actually thrilling moments,” De La Hoya mentioned. “Berlanga didn’t win one spherical! He was by no means remotely within the combat from the primary bell. Is that this the place boxing goes? The bar has been set so low that followers are simply pleased to see fighters final 12 rounds? What? Fighters are getting praised for merely going the space with a 35-year-old Canelo who hasn’t knocked anyone out since 2021. Don’t you all need to see knockouts?
“I’m from a unique time on this sport when fighters went to battle within the ring. We wished to destroy our opponents. I nonetheless took the [Manny] Pacquiao combat understanding my physique was damaged and previous and I couldn’t beat him, however I used to be a warrior. I wished to be a legend. It’s a unique mentality, a champion’s mentality. Canelo desires to receives a commission. He avoids [Joseph] Benavidez and [Dmitry] Bivol who schooled him similar to [Floyd] Mayweather. He desires to cruise simply into retirement.
“The place are the fighters who’ve balls? Don’t we need to see the most effective combat the most effective? Why are we, as boxing followers, accepting this low degree competitors and leisure?”
De La Hoya beforehand promoted Alvarez till Canelo left Golden Boy Promotions in 2020. Earlier this yr, Alvarez claimed De La Hoya stole cash from his fighters which led De La Hoya to threaten authorized motion in return.
