Oscar De La Hoya has sent a fierce response to Edgar Berlanga warning him to “enjoy your first and last pay-per-view experience” when he faces Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas on Saturday.
De La Hoya, who acrimoniously fell out with unified super middleweight champion, Canelo after years of promoting him, described his fight with Berlanga as a “snoozefest” and insisted he would be attending UFC 306, which is also taking place in Sin City on Saturday.
Berlanga, who fights for a maiden world title at the T-Mobile Arena, erupted at the Golden Boy Chairman during Wednesday’s final press conference for his bout with Alvarez and threatened to lay hands on him if he saw him.
“F*** Oscar De La Hoya too,” the 27-year-old said.
“That motherf***** he keeps talking and talking.
“We’re going to smack him when we see him.
“He’s got to stop.
“He’s trying to f*** up the event.”
De La Hoya held talks with ‘The Chosen One’ before he opted to sign with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing following the conclusion of his Top Rank deal.
The former six-weight world champion has questioned the build-up to the fight, which has been billed as a Mexico vs Puerto Rico battle, arguing that Berlanga, who was born in Brooklyn, but is of Puerto Rican descent, is not a true Puerto Rican.
‘The Golden Boy’ has urged him to focus on the task in hand, which he begins as at least a 9/1 underdog with the bookmakers.
“Edgar Berlanga, you stopped your press conference yesterday to mention my name,” the 51-year-old said on Instagram.
“You said you’re going to slap me when you see me next.
“Why? Because I asked to see your Puerto Rican birth certificate? Because you’re not really Puerto Rican?
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“I’m asking because when I fought Trinidad he had the entire island travel to Las Vegas to support him.
“Or are you upset, because I said you’re a sub-par opponent for Canelo?
“These are the facts bro.
“Don’t let them get you rattled.
“Dude, you’re not fighting me. You’re distracted and better get locked in, because Canelo’s going to tap that a** this weekend.
“Good luck and enjoy your first and last pay-per-view experience.”
