Oscar De La Hoya, a Hall of Fame boxer, slams the current generation of fighters and takes aim at Canelo Alvarez. The former six-division world champion doesn't hold back in his criticism of today's boxing scene.
Following his 45-fight career, which saw him defeat legends like Pernell Whitaker, Julio Cesar Chavez, and Ike Quartey, De La Hoya has strong opinions about the state of boxing today. He believes current fighters lack the courage and willingness to take risks that defined earlier eras.
De La Hoya points out that today's boxers seem overly concerned with their paychecks and undefeated records. He explains:
"The fighters today don't think they're getting paid enough, or they're scared of taking an L. For example, Arturo Gatti and Mickey Ward weren't the most popular fighters and weren't getting paid the most during their time but we respect them today because they fought their hearts out and came back for another day."
The Golden Boy draws a stark contrast between boxing and UFC fighters. He praises UFC competitors for their warrior spirit despite lower pay, while criticizing boxers for producing predictable outcomes in major fights.
De La Hoya paints a picture of boxing's evolution over the decades. He describes the 1990s as an era of warriors who fought everyone, creating exciting mega-fights that captivated audiences. The 2000s, in his view, became boring and defensive, largely due to Floyd Mayweather's influence.
The current era gets the harshest critique from De La Hoya. He labels it as the "fattest nastiest, sloppiest era" in boxing history. At the center of his criticism stands Canelo Alvarez, whom De La Hoya describes as "the most boring but most popular boxer today."
Despite Canelo's impressive achievements as a four-weight world champion with only two losses in 66 fights, De La Hoya doesn't hold back. He states:
"Essentially, Canelo is the King of the fattest nastiest, sloppiest era."
De La Hoya's comments come amid growing frustration from fans about Canelo's reluctance to face David Benavidez, an undefeated 27-year-old widely seen as his biggest challenge. Benavidez has been pursuing a fight with Alvarez for years, but Canelo hasn't shown interest.
As the founder of Golden Boy Promotions, De La Hoya's words carry weight in the boxing world. His criticism reflects a broader debate about the current state of boxing and the willingness of top fighters to take on the toughest challenges.
