Boxing legends Oscar De La Hoya and Canelo Alvarez are on the brink of a courtroom showdown rather than a ring battle. Alvarez is preparing to defend his super middleweight titles against Jaime Munguía in Las Vegas this Saturday, marking his return to the ring after a streak of three consecutive victories.
However, the upcoming fight is overshadowed by the animosity between Alvarez and his former promoter, De La Hoya.
The rift between Alvarez and De La Hoya stems from Alvarez’s departure from Golden Boy Promotions, the company founded by De La Hoya. In 2020, Alvarez opted to sign with Matchroom Boxing, severing his ties with Golden Boy. This move has fueled tensions between the two boxing icons, setting the stage for a legal confrontation rather than a sporting one.
The drama escalated during the pre-fight press conference, where De La Hoya took shots at Alvarez’s past drug test failures, prompting a heated exchange between the two. Alvarez retaliated by using a homophobic slur against De La Hoya, underscoring the bitterness of their feud. The animosity was palpable as they confronted each other, highlighting the personal nature of their conflict.
Alvarez didn’t mince words when accusing De La Hoya of financial impropriety, alleging that fighters, including his three-time opponent Gennady Golovkin, were not adequately compensated under Golden Boy Promotions. These accusations have pushed De La Hoya to retaliate legally, as evidenced by a cease and desist letter he shared on social media targeting Alvarez and his legal team.
The once-promising partnership between Alvarez and De La Hoya has devolved into a bitter legal battle, eclipsing the anticipation for Alvarez’s upcoming fight. As the boxing world awaits the outcome of Alvarez’s clash with Munguía in the ring, the real showdown between Alvarez and De La Hoya unfolds in the legal arena, with both sides gearing up for a contentious legal duel.