Oscar De La Hoya has sent a scathing message to a former world title challenger who suffered a devastating knockout loss last week.
‘The Golden Boy’ had an accomplished professional career, beginning back in 1992 just a short while after he walked away from the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona with top honours in the lightweight ranks.
He would go on to capture world titles across no less than six weight divisions throughout the course of his tenure, racking up career defining victories against the likes of Julio Cesar Chavez Sr, Pernell Whitaker and Ike Quartey amongst many others.
His campaign inside of the ring came to an end after he was beaten by Manny Pacquiao in December of 2008, where he would then fully transition into a role as a promoter under the ‘Golden Boy Promotions’ banner, a company he founded back in 2002. Since then, he has not been shy about speaking his mind on this era’s fighters.
In a video released on social media, De La Hoya savagely mocked super middleweight contender Edgar Berlanga after the 28-year-old from Brooklyn suffered a knockout defeat to Britain’s Hamzah Sheeraz.
“Edgar Berlanga, you’ve got to be kidding me! Three knockdowns in the first five rounds? And it’s game over.
“You were not locked in and I called it. You were so concerned about insulting me and embarrassing me in the weeks leading up to your fight, I mean karma’s a real b***h man.
“So what did we learn in these situations? One, never disrespect a legend. Number two, don’t ever f**k with someone who doesn’t give a f**k. Number three, no fighter should be talking s**t until they win at least three or four world titles, until then just sit your ass down. Farewell, Bumlanga.”
The promoter and Berlanga had been embroiled in a feud for months. Pre-bout, Berlanga escalated things by insulting De La Hoya – whose fighter William Zepeda was also on the card – at the fight week press conference.
Berlanga now finds himself at a crossroads in his career, after suffering a second defeat in less than a year after he was outpointed by reigning undisputed super-middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez last September. There is undoubtedly room for him in the division, however his next move is crucial to his career.
As for Sheeraz, he may have just earned himself a shot at Canelo.
