Golden Boy chief Oscar De La Hoya has shed light on his fractured relationship with Canelo Alvarez, admitting he still doesn’t know precisely what caused the split.
Speaking on the All The Smoke Fight podcast, De La Hoya was asked directly about the fallout with his former star fighter. The Hall of Famer revealed the first signs of distance came after the Floyd Mayweather vs. Canelo Álvarez fight in 2013.
De La Hoya admitted he couldn’t attend the event because he was in rehab, but made the effort to call Canelo before the bout.
De La Hoya’s Theory on Canelo
“I actually called Canelo in rehab, and I said Sorry, I am in here, and I can’t make it, and he said, ‘Oh, I understand, and we are going to win,’ and that was it,” De La Hoya said. “After that, there were no issues, that’s why I can’t pinpoint.”
When pressed on when problems began, De La Hoya pointed to one possible factor.
“It could be jealousy because I remember every time I go into a room where he is, all the attention turns over to me. They have a lot of love, so there must be some kind of jealousy there.
“That’s all I can think of because we are straight shooters.”
The Golden Boy boss continued by insisting he had never misled Alvarez during their time together.
“That’s why I have been a promoter for twenty-plus years, because we are straight shooters. I am a fighter myself, so I know what it’s like to get cheated. I know what it is like to have promoters promise you this and that.”
When asked if there were any other hidden issues, De La Hoya was blunt.
“Zero. Zero. None whatsoever.”
De La Hoya stated he wants Canelo to one day share his side of the story.
“I hope so because I need the answer,” De La Hoya concluded.
The History of the Feud
Speaking in another interview previously, this time with Shannon Sharpe on Club Shay Shay, De La Hoya admitted Canelo hates him. The Golden Boy President added that he didn’t want Canelo to fight Mayweather at all.
I told Canelo, “Do not fight Floyd because you’re too young. You have no experience.” He’s 21 years old, and he’s flexing his muscles like, “I can take on Floyd; I’m the very best. Guess what, you got schooled. It wasn’t even close!”
“I can make it happen (another big fight), but Canelo hates the s*** out of me. It would be a lot of money, but it’s not a legacy. I don’t think Canelo has anything to prove.
“I think Canelo is obviously now fighting for the money, which I don’t blame him for, as long as he fights. But for instance, not to take Benavidez, which the world is urging him to; it’s bad for his reputation and for his legacy for not taking that prime fighter in his career.”
About the Author
Phil Jay is a veteran boxing journalist with over 15 years of experience covering the global fight scene. As Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News since 2010, Jay has interviewed dozens of world champions and reported ringside on boxing’s biggest nights. [View all articles by Phil Jay] and learn more about his work in combat sports journalism.
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