In a fiery exchange at a news conference in Las Vegas, boxing superstar Canelo Alvarez and his former promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, clashed ahead of Alvarez's upcoming super middleweight championship defense against Jamie Munguia. The tension between the two escalated when De La Hoya demanded respect from Alvarez, citing their past relationship that ended in 2020.
De La Hoya mentioned his struggles with mental health and rehab stints, emphasizing Golden Boy Promotions' role in building Alvarez's career. The verbal sparring intensified as De La Hoya brought up Alvarez's past doping controversy, leading to a heated confrontation on stage.
Alvarez accused De La Hoya of profiting off his name and questioned payments owed to Gennadiy Golovkin from their rematch. De La Hoya defended himself, stating that all financial obligations were met and hinted at a defamation lawsuit against Alvarez.
The rift between Alvarez and De La Hoya dates back to their legal disputes in 2020, culminating in their first public confrontation since then. Despite mutual respect between Alvarez and Munguia, De La Hoya's involvement added an extra layer of motivation for Alvarez heading into the fight.
While such confrontations are common in boxing promotions, Alvarez expressed disappointment in the situation but expected De La Hoya's tactics. De La Hoya, on the other hand, welcomed Alvarez's anger as they geared up for the upcoming bout.
