Oscar De La Hoya used to promote Canelo Alvarez and is never shy about speaking on his fights.
Canelo faces William Scull first in May and if he wins will take on Terence Crawford in a super fight in September.
Speaking to Colm McGuigan of IFL TV De La Hoya talked all things boxing as well as later spoke on Canelo, Canelo vs Crawford and more:
[Colm McGuigan]:
This is Colm McGuigan for IFL TV. I’m back with my man, Oscar De La Hoya. Oscar, I last saw you in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Did you enjoy yourself in Saudi?
[Oscar De La Hoya]:
Yeah, it’s always beautiful—it’s always nice being there. They treat us well. The accommodations and everything are just awesome, first-class. What I love about Saudi Arabia and Riyadh is that you feel safe. You feel like you can just be out and about, and everything’s great and awesome. So, yeah, it’s a pretty good time.
[Colm McGuigan]:
Oscar, you got another win over Eddie Hearn with Virgil Ortiz beating Bohachuk. How happy were you about that?
[Oscar De La Hoya]:
I mean, look, it’s pretty cool that the media now is looking for a winner—Matchroom versus Golden Boy. It’s great for the sport, great for boxing. It creates a buzz, it creates tension. But yeah, Virgil Ortiz did his job. We knew that Virgil Ortiz is special, and we know that Bohachuk is a very good fighter—he’s actually a great fighter—but Virgil has his number. That’s the bottom line. I’m extremely happy for him, and on to the next.
[Colm McGuigan]:
I want to ask you about Gervonta “Tank” Davis on Saturday night. What did you make of that non-knockdown call?
[Oscar De La Hoya]:
Yeah, very interesting—very, very interesting. I mean, call it what it is: it was a great fight. I think there was a little favoritism, you know, from whoever—the commission or the referee. I was actually surprised that the referee allowed that event to take place, to happen, because that referee is a professional referee and an experienced referee. So, I just feel that Lamont Roach did extremely well against Tank Davis. I think Roach was on his A-game, and it was a great fight—I enjoyed it. Tank Davis is obviously a terrific fighter.
[Colm McGuigan]:
This is a massive event in Times Square—huge PR. You get to be a part of this event. How do you feel about that?
[Oscar De La Hoya]:
Yeah, look, to have three fighters—three out of the six—is actually pretty gratifying, knowing that we have the main event, a fighter in the co-main event, and the third fight. It’s going to be a blockbuster event. I think this event here is historical. I think everyone should take notice of what happens when promoters come together, what happens when Sela and Turki Alalshikh have a vision. Closing out Times Square is a dream come true for boxing—it really is. We’ve never seen anything like this. So, to have possibly half a million people watching it for free, live in Times Square, is going to be the best thing ever for boxing.
[Colm McGuigan]:
What’s the conversation between you and Turki Alalshikh about Devin Haney versus Ryan Garcia if they both win? Have you already had that conversation?
[Oscar De La Hoya]:
Yeah, it’s been talked about. Look, the first thing is first—you have to win on May 2nd. You have to win. If you don’t win, there’s no fight. So, is it disrespectful to Jose Ramirez that we’re even talking about that? No, because we’ve seen upsets—we’ve seen them all the time—where somebody overlooks their opponent. The one thing about Ryan Garcia—why I love that matchup—is because in that fight, you don’t know what’s going to happen. Ramirez has a strong punch; Ryan has a good chin. Both guys have been out of the ring for a while. I think both guys have something to prove, but it’s going to be an explosive, fun fight to watch. I have Ryan winning against Ramirez. With Haney—look, Haney’s been off for about a year. His suspect chin is going to come into play because he got knocked out so badly by Ryan Garcia. So, how is he going to react? Ramirez is a working-class, hard worker in the gym every single day—doesn’t drink, doesn’t smoke, just lives and breathes boxing. He’s going to be on his A-game, and he has pop. If he catches Devin, bye-bye—plans are over. That’s how this fight can pan out; that’s how this event can pan out. You never know who’s going to win. Look at Barboza with Teofimo Lopez—I mean, that’s a pick ‘em fight. I think that fight there is a pick ‘em fight. It’s going to be a good event, and yeah, let’s all enjoy it.
[Colm McGuigan]:
Oscar, what do you make—last one—what do you make of Canelo Alvarez versus Scull?
[Oscar De La Hoya]:
I seriously cannot say anything about it. I don’t know who Scull is—I do not know who Scull is, and I’m a boxing guy. I swear I’m not just saying this because it’s Canelo and I don’t like Canelo—I’m saying this because I do not know who Scull is. I’ve never seen him fight. So, all I know is that he’s Cuban, and when I hear “Cuban,” you better be careful because he’s going to have a lot of movement, a lot of footwork. That gives Canelo trouble—anybody who moves like Erislandy Lara, anybody who moves like Floyd Mayweather, who goes side to side, boxing Canelo, who’s on his quicksand feet, is going to beat him. So, will it be a good fight? Who knows, because I don’t know Scull. But I think Scull, just being Cuban, is going to give him difficulties because he boxes.
[Colm McGuigan]:
Final one—you know Terence Crawford. Does he beat Canelo Alvarez?
[Oscar De La Hoya]:
I’m going by history and what history has taught me, and that is: a good little man has never beaten a good big man. So, I have to say that Crawford will not beat Canelo. Who knows—I might be wrong. Crawford might prove everyone—the whole world—wrong. But on paper, it’s never happened. Still, it’s a good fight. If Canelo never faces David Benavidez, does that tarnish his legacy? Absolutely—absolutely, 100%. Benavidez has not only called him out, has not only been mandatory several times for years, but hasn’t backed off from talking to Canelo. Remember, Canelo said, “Well, I don’t give him the opportunity because he’s talking about me.” Like, what? We’re in a sport of talking—we’re in a sport of smack talk, right? How can you not give a guy an opportunity just because he’s talking? It just doesn’t make sense to me. I mean, imagine if Frazier wasn’t talking to Muhammad Ali, or vice versa—imagine if me and Vargas weren’t talking. You wouldn’t get these big mega-events, these exciting fights. So, I do not understand it, but hey, it’s his career.”
Some key points there from De La Hoya.
Even though he is not fond of Alvarez he still had enough of a pragmatic mindset to look at the Crawford fight objectively.
It is a tall ask for ‘Bud’ Crawford to take on such a bigger opponent in Canelo.
It would almost be superhuman of Crawford pulled it off.
Another thing De La Hoya touched on as well that is correct is Alvarez can’t look past William Scull.
At this level in boxing all it takes is one off night and all hell can break loose — look at Gervonta Davis vs Lamont Roach last weekend.
Not many gave Roach a chance going into the fight beforehand.
One punch at this level can change anything — not just in the heavyweight division.
Alvarez ultimately is still the biggest star in the sport and the fact he is being lined up to fight Terence Crawford, a man who many consider the number one or number two pound for pound boxer in the entire sport, is not a good thing — it’s a great thing.
