Golden Boy Promotions chief Oscar De La Hoya has insisted that Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder should wait up to a year before squaring off for the undisputed heavyweight championship.
De La Hoya, who promotes Mexican superstar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, stated that he feels the bout needs time to grow into a pay-per-view attraction stateside, and claimed that “nobody knows” either of the heavyweight champions.
“I, as a boxing fan, would love to see that fight, but it’s not about two fighters not wanting to fight. I know Joshua is a warrior who wants to fight with Wilder.” De La Hoya told ESPN Deportes.
“That fight would be incredible, but for me that fight should be done in about six months or have it done in a year – so it can grow and be a bigger fight. Not only have they not fought on pay-per-view, but nobody knows them in the pay-per-view market [in the United States].”
The six-time World champion finished by declaring his admiration for WBC World champion Wilder, before going on to state that only his fighter – Alvarez – was a sufficient enough draw to warrant a pay-per-view fight in America.
“Wilder is a great fighter, I respect and admire him, but fighting on a pay-per-view platform is not the same as fighting on Showtime or on HBO – where you do not have to pay (extra). To demand that people pay 70 or 80 dollars is difficult, and there is only one fighter who can do it (now) and that is Canelo Alvarez.”