Showtime president Stephen Espinoza has issued a response to Oscar De La Hoya’s concerning comments regarding a potential fight between Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia.
Despite a prior announcement that terms had been agreed for the two stars to lock horns this spring, De La Hoya plunged matters into doubt this week, when he claimed that no contract had been received on Garcia’s end.
He then took to social media to issue a Monday deadline for the issues to be resolved, or ‘King Ry’s team would be “moving on.”
However, in an interview with Fight Hub, Espinoza described De La Hoya’s actions as “puzzling.”
“Is there what you would call a formal, signed contract? No. But is there a very detailed exchange of terms where everyone was in agreement? Yes, there’s that. And did everyone review the announcement that a deal was made and agree before it went out? Absolutely.”
“No deal would have been announced by the fighters had everyone not signed off. So the reality is it’s a little bit puzzling why you would say “go ahead Ryan and tell everyone there’s a deal” then two days later, claim there isn’t a deal.”
“I’m not sure what the agenda is. I’m not sure if it’s cold feet, maybe they’re getting buyers remorse over the deal they agreed. But on the day it was announced, everyone was in agreement; DAZN, Goldenboy, Showtime, PBC – everyone was comfortable.”
“A couple of days later it changes? It’s a mystery to me.”
Everything seemed set for the two Americans to square off next, after Davis came through his tune up fight with Hector Luis Garcia unscathed.
The news that the blockbuster bout is now in jeopardy will come as a bitter blow to boxing fans across the globe, who have been crying out for a marquee match up for some time.