A battle is brewing between UFC champion Dana White and the conservative side of boxing, mainly with Golden Boy Promotions boss Oscar De La Hoya putting up resistance
With the announcement of White’s new boxing league, the former world champion, who is now involved in promotional activities with his company Golden Boy Promotions, has just realised where he stands in the UFC CEO’s grand plan for boxing.
Oscar De La Hoya feels offended
Dana White and His Excellency Turki Alalshikh announced some time ago the launch of their new boxing league. Alalshikh has partnered with TKO Holdings to launch this initiative, which is also rumored to promote the long-awaited fight between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford later this year as its inaugural event.
The Golden Boy got involved in the matter when the GEA chairman made a comment about his ambition with the TKO Boxing League. After the announcement of the league alongside Dana White, Turki Alalshikh bluntly stated: “I am confident that this league, in a short time, will blow everything away”. While this may have generated excitement among fans, with Oscar… it did not!
You see, White, as he himself claims, will use his UFC model in the league to take it to new heights. Therefore, Oscar interpreted Alalshikh’s comments as if White had been given the reins of boxing, which did not sit well with the promoter. “That comment offended me a little bit,” Oscar De La Hoya told Fight Hub TV on March 11. “I’ve been in boxing all my life. I’ve been promoting for over 20 years.”
“So what I want to do is stay in my lane and do what I do for Golden Boy and DAZN, and offer the fans the best fights possible, just as we’ve done for years.” He stated that “working with Turki over the last year or so has been an honor for me. However, “I have my business that I will take care of. And nobody is going to touch me in that regard, because we are the best promoters in the world of boxing.”
Since Oscar’s response to Alalshikh’s comments, White has clarified whether he will work with figures such as Oscar De La Hoya, Eddie Hearn and others.
Dana White on uncertain future with Oscar De La Hoya and others
Dana White has been clear about his vision for the new boxing league: he refuses to work with existing promoters or even regulatory bodies. His goal is to replicate the UFC model, where fighters remain exclusive to the promotion, avoiding outside competition. While this strategy has worked in MMA, boxing works differently.
The best talent is usually tied to promoters such as Oscar De La Hoya, and the big difference in fighter pay makes recruitment difficult. In any case, when White was asked about his intentions to work with Oscar, Hearn and others, he revealed the fate of Oscar and others in his plans: “I don’t know how this is all going to play out, we’ll see how it goes.”
Despite his firm stance against promoters and regulators, White’s latest comments suggest he is venturing into uncharted territory without a clear plan. Should he adopt or maintain his vision? What is the best decision for his boxing venture?
It is with information from Essentially Sports
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