As the biggest box office star in the sport at one time, Oscar De La Hoya had as strong a claim as any as ‘the face of boxing.’
Although he would later be topped by two opponents in Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in pay-per-view revenue, ‘The Golden Boy’ was the man every fan wanted to see in the late nineties. With wins over the likes of Julio Cesar Chavez, Ike Quartey and Pernell Whitaker, he had the skills to back it up, too.
Now on the promotional side of things, and despite a bitter business split, De La Hoya still recognises Saul ‘Canelo‘ Alvarez as the ‘face of boxing right now’ – as he mentioned in the post-fight press conference for his man Jaime Munguia’s loss to the champion back in May. It’s a status he feels may not last through September, though.
Speaking on his new series ‘Clapback Thursdays’, De La Hoya warned Canelo that the fans would boycott him for not making a fight with David Benavidez and instead facing WBA number one contender Edgar Berlanga.
“The September 14th fight has been made – Canelo Alvarez-Edgar Berlanga. A fight that nobody asked for. Fans are now starting to boycott Canelo for continuing to duck you know who. Also, they’re going up against the UFC at The Sphere? Good luck with making a splash with that one.”
PBC decided to keep the September 14 date despite, as mentioned, Dana White’s UFC putting the first combat sports event on in new venue The Sphere. Canelo’s main event will take place just ten minutes away at the T-Mobile Arena.
There has been some similar backlash from fans on the matchmaking, and David Benavidez has since confirmed he will campaign up at light-heavyweight rather than continue to chase Canelo, who is set to be stripped of his IBF belt for missing mandatory duties.
