Oscar De La Hoya has claimed that a Floyd Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao exhibition would be nothing but a ‘money grab.’
De La Hoya is long retired from the sport but remains a prominent voice because of his role as a promoter at Golden Boy.
He is not afraid to offer a forthright view or two and, after losing to Mayweather in 2007 and unexpectedly to Pacquiao a year later in December 2008, he has now been deriding each man in light of news that they may be fighting once more.
The first fight, billed as the Fight of The Century, came in 2015 which fans said was many years too late as both men were past their peak.
Financially it was hugely successful for both men even though the fight itself lacked any real entertainment and Mayweather ran out an easy points winner.
Now, speaking to Boxing News, De La Hoya has claimed it is a money grab.
“More power to them, I guess, if they want to step in the ring and make money, great, but that’s all it is. It’s a money grab, I mean I would be silly to say I wouldn’t do that, because I’m not fighting a real fight or giving the fight fans the best of me, I’m just trying to make money.”
He then offered the view that it could be good for the popularity of the sport but ultimately said he wasn’t a fan of it.
“If people are going to buy it and support it then great, it’s more visibility and eye balls on the sport of boxing which is what it’s about form me as a promoter, but as a fighter I don’t really agree with it.”
Agree or not, it will likely generate millions of dollars for both men.