Oscar De La Hoya didn’t mince words this week, taking aim at modern boxing and its fighters, claiming they’re responsible for the sport’s current struggles. In his Instagram series, "Clap Back Thursday," the Hall of Famer slammed the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson exhibition, calling it "scripted" and "a horrible fight."
De La Hoya, now a promoter, didn’t hold back in his critique of the sport, saying, "Boxing has been in hibernation. Fighters aren’t daring to be great anymore. We’re stuck with mediocre fights because fighters are scared of losing or think they’re underpaid."
He praised the likes of Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano for delivering "real fights" but lambasted others for celebrating moral victories. De La Hoya pointed to fighters like Arturo Gatti and Micky Ward, who weren't the biggest stars or the highest-paid but earned respect through their heart and grit. "They came back for another day," he said. *"UFC fighters fight for peanuts, but they go out on their shields."
The former six-division champion didn’t spare even the biggest names in the sport, including Canelo Alvarez. He accused Canelo of delivering predictable outcomes and criticized Edgar Berlanga for celebrating his ability to go the distance with Alvarez. "This is where we’re at," De La Hoya lamented. "In the ’90s, we had Prime Tyson, Chavez, Trinidad, myself - we were warriors. Now? It’s boring."
Watch the full "Clap Back Thursday" episode by clicking here.
Image Credit: DAZN