Oscar De La Hoya says he is tired of fighters ‘slandering his company’s name.
The former multi-weight world champion set up Golden Boy Promotions in 2002 and, since his retirement in 2008, has focused solely on the business side of the sport.
On the Un Round Mas podcast, Hall of Fame Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez accused the company of ‘stealing’ from him and recalled a time when, after he decided not to renew his contract, he believes the fighter-turned-promoter moved the goalposts.
“He says, ‘I see you’re not renewing. We want 20% of your earnings from the Pacquiao fight.’ They accused me of stealing from them. They called me a thief. I told Oscar, sure, 20%? No problem. In my mind, I thought, yeah [right], I’ll give it after you stole from me for five years? … I don’t care if he hears this. Let him know. He tried to charge me a percentage for the Pacquiao fight.”
For the fight – the fourth and final between the rivals – Pacquiao was guaranteed a $26 million purse and Marquez $6 million plus a share of profits from pay-per-view buys that topped one million. Marquez won via sixth round knockout – the pair had previously drawn their first bout before Pacquiao won the second and third instalments on points.
De La Hoya has now responded, saying that the deal was agreed in advance and standard practice.
“Professor De La Hoya here to educate bitter, broke, retired fighters who think it’s okay to slander my company’s name without any repercussions. Over the last few months it has become popular for retired fighters to clout-chase by alleging that I some how screwed them over decades ago when they fought for Golden Boy.
Juan Manuel Marquez went on a podcast where he bitched and cried that I took 20% of his pay-per-view purse for the Pacquiao fight in 2012. Juan, you moron, you negotiated that contract with your own promoter and lawyer and you signed it. You agreed to it all on paper. Plus, 20% of a pay-per-view purse is the standard amount for a promoter to be paid. You think I should work for free?
And what makes this worse is that before you were a boxer you were an accountant but you still couldn’t handle your own finances. Listen, dude, I’m sorry you’re broke, but how you spend your money is not my problem. I have always paid everyone exactly what they are contracted and entitled to.
Juan, let’s be honest, you only heard this because you heard Canelo defame me at the press conference in May … I hate to see former fighters end up like this, it’s sad and pathetic. But slandering me is only going to get you in trouble, dude. So keep my name out of your f***ing mouth.”
