Oscar De La Hoya says he achieved his aim of unsettling Canelo Alvarez, following their clash during the final press conference for the latter’s showdown with Jaime Munguia on Saturday.
Canelo and De La Hoya have had a fractious relationship ever since Alvarez left Golden Boy Promotions in 2020, with his departure ending in a court battle.
The pair have taken several shots at each other in the media over recent months leading up to Saturday’s battle which pits De La Hoya’s charge, Munguia against the undisputed super middleweight champion at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Their rivalry finally boiled over during the final press conference on Wednesday, when De La Hoya slammed his former charge, whilst addressing media from the dais at the MGM Grand.
The 51-year-old told Alvarez to “put some f***ing respect” on his name, claiming that Golden Boy built him into the star he is today.
Oscar dela Hoya wastes no time disrespecting Canelo at the final press conference. #CaneloMunguia
Watch now: https://t.co/j02rZGbrUB pic.twitter.com/BHaPtZqmM8
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) May 1, 2024
The Los Angeles man also made reference to Alvarez’s failed drugs test prior to his scheduled rematch with Gennady Golovkin.
The Guadalajara native, visibly enraged by his former promoter’s comments, stepped towards ‘The Golden Boy’ although the pair were kept at a distance apart to prevent any physical altercation from ensuing.
The 33-year-old, who makes a fourth defence of his undisputed crown on Saturday, addressed the media in Spanish and then spoke over a translator, firing a number of expletives his way in English.
“I just had some feelings that I wanted to get off my chest,” De La Hoya told ESPN.
“What perfect moment then fight week.
“I have my guy Jaime Munguia, who I believe in 1000% and then you have Cnaelo Alvarez, who has apparently has a beef with me for some strange reason.
“Talking bad about me, saying ‘oh the drugs’ and this and that and ‘you went to rehab’ and this and that.
“Well guess what, yeah I did do that stuff and that was the past, but you still continue to put me down.
“You still continue to put your foot on my neck while I’m down, that’s not right.
“So guess what, I’m going to defend myself during fight week and guess what, it worked.
“I got in his head.”
Alvarez accused De La Hoya of stealing from his fighters, a comment the Golden Boy CEO later said he would sue the Mexican for defamation.
