How a social media provocation turns into a top-class “5 vs. 5” tournament in Riyadh/Saudi Arabia.
Oscar De La Hoya and Eddie Hearn are once again fighting a duel on social media. But this time it’s not just words. In fact, the online skirmish could result in a top-class “5 vs. 5” fight night. But first things first.
De La Hoya suggested the idea in his recent “Clap Back Thursday” video. “We all know Eddie has the worst record as a promoter. But I’m always ready to give the fans a great night of boxing,” said the Golden Boy boss in an emphatically patronizing manner. His condition: “The fights take place in a small ring. Nobody can run away.”
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More InformationOscar De La Hoya plans high-class fights
De La Hoya has clear ideas for the tournament. He suggested the following pairings:
- Vergil Ortiz Jr. against Jaron “Boots” Ennis: Ortiz is to fight the IBF world champion. “Ortiz will tear him apart,” said De La Hoya. However, Ennis would have to move up to junior middleweight for this fight.
- Jaime Munguia against Diego Pacheco: “Pacheco is talented, but Munguia has more experience,” explained the Golden Boy boss. Possible catch: Munguia is no longer under contract with Golden Boy.
- William Zepeda vs Shakur Stevenson: “Zepeda will stop Shakur if he beats Farmer,” says De La Hoya. The fight is already scheduled for early 2024.
- Oscar Duarte vs Devin Haney: “Duarte will be ready after he beats Akhmedov,” said De La Hoya. Haney currently has no fixed promoter.
- Winner Ramirez vs. Barboza vs. Jack Catterall: “Our guys will give Catterall a run for his money,” said De La Hoya.
Eddie Hearn: “All fights are possible”.
Hearn was open to De La Hoya’s proposals: “Boots against Ortiz? That’s a deal. Munguia against Pacheco? Also doable.” He was willing to negotiate for every pairing. “Clean sweep,” joked the matchroom boss confidently. It remains to be seen whether his fighters will really win them all.
A “6 vs 6” with De La Hoya vs Hearn?
De La Hoya added humorously that he would be getting into the ring himself. “Let’s entertain the fans properly – me against you, Eddie! Let me kick your ass in the main attraction.” Hearn replied: “I’m ready, Oscar, but don’t underestimate my abilities”.
Saudi Arabia under discussion as a venue
The idea is gaining traction through joint business relations with Saudi Arabia. Both promoters are working with the Saudis’ matchmaker Turki Alalshikh, who has already organized major boxing nights. DAZN would be on board as a streaming partner. “With Turki, we can make this happen,” Hearn wrote in his commentary.
Possible date – a provocation
5 de Mayo
– Oscar De La Hoya (@OscarDeLaHoya) November 10, 2024
Vergil Boots
Zepeda Shakur
Munguía Pacheco
Duarte Haney
Ramírez/ Barboza Caterall
At X.com, De La Hoya suggests May 5 as the date for the tournament. A clear provocation: “Cinco de Mayo” is a Mexican holiday on which Canelo Alvarez prefers to enter the ring. The relationship between Canelo and the Golden Boy is, to put it mildly, “strained”. The two used to work together and broke up in 2020. If the “5 vs. 5” tournament were to take place on May 5, Canelo would no longer have the undivided attention of the boxing world for himself on that day. De La Hoya’s spiteful comment at the end of his video is probably also aimed at this.
Text: Andreas Ohlberger
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