Golden Boy Promotions founder and former six-weight world champion fighter, Oscar de la Hoya, continues to trash combat sports rival Dana White and, what de la Hoya described as the UFC boss’s “failed experiment” with Zuffa Boxing.
Zuffa is a long-rumored fight firm that finally hosted its first event on January 23 and has held four shows so far — all at the UFC-owned TV studio Meta Apex in Las Vegas.
It has done so largely outside of the traditional boxing structure, as Zuffa advocates for a reshaping of the way in which boxing operates through the lobbying of The Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act. This would create what the bill calls a Universal Boxing Organization (UBO).
A UBO would differ from traditional boxing, where there is a separation between a world championship, the rankings, and a promoter, as Zuffa — as its own UBO — would have its own belt and rankings.
De la Hoya is unimpressed.
He sounded off in his latest social media clap back thusly: “I estimate the Saudis have spent at least a billion dollars since entering the boxing space, two years ago.
“I mean, how? They paid $100 million for Canelo alone and just paid Conor f****** Benn $15 million.”
De la Hoya, a former owner of Ring Magazine, added: “They also paid a lot of f****** money to buy The Ring Magazine, which is a dead asset!
“Plus, all the other events they put on, and they’re fully funding the failed science experiment known as Zuffa Boxing — it could be way more than a billion bucks.”
The executive, who promoters Ryan Garcia, Gabriela Fundora, and Vergil Ortiz, among others, said: “And where are they recouping that investing? On ticket sales and PPVs? They don’t even sell tickets at the events in Saudi, and the PPVs are a tiny fraction of income.”
He then issued a warning shot to any fighters who follow Benn, Jai Opetaia, and Edgar Berlanga to Zuffa.
“Again, the Saudis are fully funding Zuffa,” de la Hoya said.
“So fighters beware and make sure you read the fine print because you may need to get out of your Zuffa contract in a few months.
“There might not be any money left.”
