Legendary former boxer and promoter Oscar De La Hoya has stirred controversy with his recent comments. In the Youtube Channel of Fight Hub TV, De La Hoya shared his opinion on the controversial fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson, which took place on November 15, 2024, at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The unanimous decision in his favor came after eight rounds in which Tyson, despite his age, showed remarkable resilience. Despite doubts about the legitimacy of the event, it was a commercial success.
The fight broke ticket sales records and reached 65 million homes via streaming, amassing nearly 200 million viewers.
However, for Oscar De La Hoya, these numbers do not justify what he describes as a “awful.”
De La Hoya harshly criticized the fight, calling it a scripted event. According to the promoter, Tyson appeared exhausted even before stepping into the ring, and the fight failed to meet fan expectations.
“From the start, that fight was awful. Mike Tyson almost fell during his walkout, and he looked like he was stuck in quicksand within the first ten seconds,” said De La Hoya.
The former world champion suggested that there was a prior agreement to ensure Jake Paul’s victory. “I believe that Tyson was certainly held back,” he stated. According to De La Hoya, the fight was designed to benefit the YouTuber, which, in his view, damages boxing’s credibility.
Oscar De La Hoya also took the opportunity to talk about the current state of boxing, which he described as a sport in decline.
“The world boxing has been in hibernation it’s like a Sleeping Bear,” remarked De La Hoya.
According to him, the lack of exciting and authentic fights has pushed fans away from the sport.
De La Hoya compared the current era to the 1990s when fighters like Mike Tyson, Julio César Chávez, and Félix Trinidad filled stadiums with thrilling bouts.
“Fighters are not daring to be great… And that’s killing the sport,” De La Hoya said.
He also criticized contemporary boxers for prioritizing financial gains over the quality of their matches.
“People try to blame the promoters, trainers, or managers, but the truth is, it’s the fighters,” added De La Hoya.
Oscar De La Hoya concluded his comments by calling for boxing to reclaim its essence.
He mentioned memorable fights like those of Arturo Gatti and Mickey Ward, who earned respect for their dedication in the ring. According to him, the sport needs more fighters with that level of commitment.
He also did not hold back in criticizing current figures like Canelo Álvarez, whom he compared to Kim Kardashian.
“We have Canelo, who’s the most popular but also the most boring fighter. He’s like Kim Kardashian: no personality, yet he makes tons of money. Essentially, Canelo is ‘the king of the fattest sloppiest nastiest BBL era’,” De La Hoya declared.
De La Hoya highlighted the fight between Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor, which was part of the same card. According to him, this fight provided an authentic and exciting experience for boxing fans.
“The real winners of the night were Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor,” concluded De La Hoya.
The controversy generated by Oscar De La Hoya’s statements reflects the impact of the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight on boxing.
While some celebrate its commercial success, others question whether events like this ultimately benefit or harm the sport in the long run.
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