Oscar De La Hoya says there’s little chance of repairing his personal relationship with Ryan Garcia, but that won’t stop him promoting his fights.
Following Garcia’s first professional loss to Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, the pair have been embroiled in an online back and forth that has seen the fighter claim his team weren’t there for him in defeat and the promoter demanding him to ‘man up and stop crying.’
The rift in their relationship recently turned legal, with Garcia’s team sending Golden Boy Promotions ‘a demand letter’ citing violations of their agreed terms for his promotion.
GBP responded by filing a lawsuit to enforce Garcia to fulfil his contract. Since those details emerged, not much has been said publicly.
Speaking to Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, De La Hoya revealed that the pair aren’t currently speaking,
“We have a lawsuit right now. I’m not suing him for money, he’s not suing me for money, I just want him to honour my contract. Just honour your contract, that’s it. You have obligations. I want you to fight, I want you to be a legend. Do you think I wanted him to fight Tank Davis with a rehydration clause? Hell no. I’m looking out for him.
But he has people that are whispering in his ear – Oh Oscar’s bad, go with this other promoter, you’ll make more money – well guess what? Ryan just made 30 million dollars. I’m not doing anything wrong here. I’m trying to create a legend.”
De La Hoya claimed that the disagreement was made public on Twitter because it is the only way he has been able to reach Garcia.
“People have kept me away from him. No [I can’t speak to him.] No [I can’t call him up.] I don’t know [if it can get fixed], I don’t think so. But look, I’m a promoter, and I’m gonna be a promoter till I’m Bob Arum’s age … Fighters come and go.”
Asked if he will be promoting his next fight, De La Hoya was certain of it.
“Absolutely. Yeah. I still have several years on his contract.”
He said there was ‘zero’ chance of then coming to an agreement to go their separate ways.
Since the loss to Davis, Garcia has split with his trainer Joe Goossen and linked up with Derrick James. He has confirmed that he’ll campaign exclusively at super-lightweight from now on.