Dana White had one phrase for the movies he’s seen on Oscar De La Hoya’s social media accounts: “Wow.”
Golden Boy Promotions founder De La Hoya, one in all boxing’s finest fighters of the final 30 years, has been on a tear in 2024 as his firm has held huge occasions that includes a few of the sport’s hottest stars like Ryan Garcia, Jaime Munguia, and Vergil Ortiz.
The 51-year-old has additionally been working exhausting on-line along with his new Clapback Thursday-themed reveals on X, the place he feedback on the massive points in boxing or fires again at one in all his rivals.
There are additionally quite a few movies posted on Instagram, on his account or his accomplice Holly Sonders, that present De La Hoya in risque outfits.
At an MMA occasion World Boxing Information attended Tuesday in Las Vegas, UFC boss White stated he had “sadly” seen these movies.
“And a brand new one got here out [Tuesday],” White added. “Wow.”
De La Hoya wasn’t the one figurehead in boxing White spoke about, as September 14 — a date UFC goes head-to-head with boxing — quick approaches.
On the identical day UFC heads to a $2.3 billion mega venue known as The Sphere in the midst of the Las Vegas strip, Premier Boxing Champions holds an occasion on the T-Cell Enviornment with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in opposition to Edgar Berlanga within the headline attraction.
The weekends closest to Cinco de Mayo [May 5] and Mexican Independence Day (September 16) are historically key dates within the boxing calendar.
However in 2023, and now once more in 2024, UFC has organized an occasion round that date to try to leverage the fervent Mexican curiosity and contribution to boxing, into MMA.
“It was our date final 12 months,” White stated, referring to a UFC Battle Evening-branded occasion that includes a principal occasion between ladies’s flyweight champ Alexa Grasso and pound-for-pound staple Valentina Shevchenko. This occasion appeared to push the Canelo vs Jermell Charlo showcase that weekend and later into the month.
The one purpose the UFC missed out on securing the Mexican Independence Day battle night time at T-Cell Enviornment is as a result of PBC booked the venue one 12 months upfront.
This infuriated White. Not as a result of he felt PBC founder Al Haymon had disrespected him — the UFC boss appears to respect Haymon and Canelo — it was extra about MGM Resorts Worldwide not giving him a heads-up or courtesy telephone name.
“That was our date final 12 months, and with out even asking us, or speaking to us, they gave the date away,” stated White.
“That’s why I’m at The Sphere. I couldn’t do The Sphere as a result of I’m below contract [to do 3-4 shows per year] with MGM [at T-Mobile Arena], however as a result of they f***** us, they allow us to do it.”
From the surface wanting in, there could now be a battle heating up over who wins the proper to carry an occasion on Mexican Independence Day weekend on the T-Cell Enviornment.
White, although, doesn’t see it that approach. “I don’t assume it’s a battle” with Haymon, he stated.
“Props to Al Haymon. He slid proper in there earlier than we had been achieved with the weekend [last year] and took the date from us.”
White later added: “Haymon and Canelo are simply doing their factor, props to them. Good for them [that] they will slide in and steal the date with no telephone name [to us, from MGM].”
No matter whether or not Canelo needs to battle in Vegas on that date sooner or later, or certainly some other outstanding boxer who can command that sort of crossover curiosity, like how Floyd Mayweather had earlier than he retired, White stated he needs to host a UFC occasion on Mexican Independence Day yearly, going ahead.
“I’m going to [hold an event on] Mexican Independence Day yearly right here for the remainder of my profession, at the very least, it doesn’t matter what’s happening,” White informed WBN and different reporters.
White then stated MGM “is guaranteeing the gate” for the Canelo vs Berlanga battle.
On this state of affairs, if, say, the assure was for $15 million, then even when ticket gross sales solely generated $10 million, PBC would nonetheless obtain the $15 million assure. If the gate exceeded that determine, they’d get the surplus.
“Why would they not go if MGM is placing up all the cash,” stated White, likening MGM’s choice to offer the date to boxing whereas additionally offering a assure to Haymon and PBC to “an additional kick within the balls.”
Sean O’Malley fights Merab Dvalishvili in the primary occasion of UFC 306 at The Sphere, after Grasso returns, as soon as once more, for a battle with Shevchenko in a high-stakes rematch — all on ESPN+.
Apart from Canelo vs Berlanga, Erislandy Lara takes on Danny Garcia, and Caleb Plant and Rolando Romero battle in separate fights at boxing on Prime Video PPV.
Alan Dawson is World Boxing Information Lead Author, a 2 x Sports activities Journalist of the 12 months finalist, and 5 x BWAA awards winner. Observe Alan @AlanDawsonSport.
