Oscar De La Hoya loved UFC 306, however that didn’t change his thoughts about Dana White.
For the previous a number of years, De La Hoya and White have taken pictures at each other by the media over all method of issues. Nonetheless, if there’s one individual in fight sports activities De La Hoya is on worse phrases with, it’s his former fighter Canelo Alvarez. So this previous weekend, when Alvarez fought Edgar Berlanga, going head-to-head with “Noche UFC” in Las Vegas on Mexican Independence Day weekend, the boxing Corridor of Famer declared he would attend UFC 306 as an alternative of the boxing occasion.
Apparently De La Hoya did simply that, and somewhat loved himself at Sphere.
“UFC Noche. I used to be true to my phrase,” De La Hoya stated on Instagram. “I did attend final Saturday. I sat in [Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority] Turki [Alalshikh’s] field upstairs and I’ve to be sincere with you, it was stunning. It was spectacular. It appeared actually cool. The manufacturing worth was there, all the things was wonderful. The fights had been really actually good. So congratulations to Turki for footing the invoice on this and making this celebration of the Mexican tradition come to life.
“And Dana, I do know this wasn’t your concept or imaginative and prescient. Nothing ever is on the UFC. You’re the Fertitta’s errand boy. However I’m all the time sincere and honest, and I wish to reward the manufacturing. UFC Noche was a very good time and I actually loved it.”
A part of the manufacturing concerned in UFC 306 was telling the historical past of Mexico by a number of vignettes performed on Sphere’s screens. One chapter targeted on Mexico’s historical past in fight sports activities, which even included De La Hoya.
However whereas De La Hoya loved UFC 306, the identical can’t be stated for the Canelo vs. Berlanga struggle. The bout obtained substantial criticism beforehand as Canelo was an enormous favourite, and that bore out on Saturday night time as Canelo received a large unanimous determination, even dropping Berlanga within the third spherical.
As a result of Canelo was unable to complete Berlanga regardless of the perceived hole between them, De La Hoya excoriated the pound-for-pound standout.
“So far as the motion, I known as it upfront. One other struggle that went the gap with none really thrilling moments,” De La Hoya stated. “Berlanga didn’t win one spherical! He was by no means remotely within the struggle from the primary bell. Is that this the place boxing goes? The bar has been set so low that followers are simply blissful to see fighters final 12 rounds? What? Fighters are getting praised for merely going the gap with a 35-year-old Canelo who hasn’t knocked anyone out since 2021. Don’t you all wish to see knockouts?
“I’m from a distinct time on this sport when fighters went to warfare within the ring. We needed to destroy our opponents. I nonetheless took the [Manny] Pacquiao struggle understanding my physique was damaged and outdated and I couldn’t beat him, however I used to be a warrior. I needed to be a legend. It’s a distinct mentality, a champion’s mentality. Canelo desires to receives a commission. He avoids [Joseph] Benavidez and [Dmitry] Bivol who schooled him similar to [Floyd] Mayweather. He desires to cruise simply into retirement.
“The place are the fighters who’ve balls? Don’t we wish to see the perfect struggle the perfect? Why are we, as boxing followers, accepting this low stage competitors and leisure?”
De La Hoya beforehand promoted Alvarez till Canelo left Golden Boy Promotions in 2020. Earlier this yr, Alvarez claimed De La Hoya stole cash from his fighters which led De La Hoya to threaten authorized motion in return.