Oscar De La Hoya is embroiled in a dual conflict: a lawsuit with boxer Ryan Garcia over a breached promotional agreement, and a verbal dispute with promoter Eddie Hearn, while also planning a tell-all documentary about his life.
Oscar De La Hoya, the former boxing champion now on the precipice of a revealing documentary about his life, expressed he harbors a peaceful attitude towards the current ongoing issues in his life. Simultaneously, he’s at odds with both boxer Ryan Garcia and promoter Eddie Hearn. Garcia and Hearn are subjects of a lawsuit and verbal disagreement respectively, and De La Hoya made it clear on Wednesday during ‘The MMA Hour’ broadcast that he refuses to take a step back from either. He also suggested that the mode and direction of these ongoing confrontations largely depends on the reactions of his adversaries.
Regarding Ryan Garcia, the onetime champion and star of Golden Boy Promotions, legal proceedings loom over their heads due to a recent courtroom debacle. Garcia accused De La Hoya of violating a promotion contract, claiming the former champ breached their agreement in multiple ways. As a result, De La Hoya filed a countersuit in federal court aiming to enforce the initial agreement. De La Hoya insists their courtroom dramas aren’t about money, but rather seeking honour and respect for their contracts. He blames the disagreements on misleading external influences that Garcia is subject to, impacting their professional relationship.
The relationship between De La Hoya and Garcia took a downward turn after Garcia’s loss to Davis in a pay-per-view event earlier this year. Garcia accused his team of abandonment and betrayal during his fight camp in the aftermath of the match, and De La Hoya suggested Garcia ‘man up’ following Garcia’s tearful appearance at the post-match press conference. Despite his disappointment at the strained relations, De La Hoya isn’t expecting resolution any time soon. He believes some people in Garcia’s current inner circle have blocked his access to him, though they could still do business together as De La Hoya acknowledges he still has several years left on their contract.
As for Eddie Hearn, the Chief of Matchroom Boxing, their joint bond lies in their contracts with streaming platform DAZN. De La Hoya has been exchanging verbal blows with the British promoter over the past year concerning potential fights and the running of their individual businesses. In particular disputes over the likes of Canelo Alvarez, Edgar Berlanga vs. ex-champ Jaime Munguia match ups and business operational styles. De La Hoya asserts that Hearn has primarily wasted DAZN’s money and hasn’t managed to build anything substantial, suggesting the latter does not have a solid understanding of the American market. However, he didn’t reject the notion of potential collaborations with Hearn in the future.