Oscar De La Hoya has hit out at Dana White over the treatment of Ring Magazine and inaugural ZUFFA champion Jai Opetaia.
In todays episode of boxing promoter feud, Oscar De La Hoya has hit out at Dana White in his most recent clapback Thursday.
Ever since Dana White entered the sport, his brash ideas have recieved immense backlash from existing promoters, few more so than Oscar De La Hoya.
Headlining ZUFFA004, Jai Opetaia (30-0, 23ko’s) defeated Brandon Glanton (21-4, 18ko’s) via unanimous decision.
Subsequently becoming the inaugural ZUFFA Boxing world champion, a belt that has created immense controversy.
Normally a world title fight build-up will be focused on the two fighters, but this was all about boxing politics.
Opetaia was the first notable name to sign with ZUFFA and Dana White.
Financially backed by SELA and Turki Al-Sheikh, ZUFFA intend to revolutionise the sport.
They have vocalised their plans to disregard the four major governing bodies, the WBC, WBO, WBA, and IBF.
This is where conflicting interests have sparked serious confusion in the build-up to this fight.
The Australian born king was the IBF and Ring Magazine cruiserweight champion.
For a number of years, Opetaia’s sole mission in the sport has been to chase undisputed supremacy at cruiserweight.
Despite signing with ZUFFA, his plans remained the same.
Undoubtedly, this left the fight world questioning everything.
Late into fight week, the IBF decided not to sanction the fight, with Opetaia consequently being stripped of his belt.
Head of Golden Boy Promotions, De La Hoya shared his thoughts on the situation:
“They’ve probably signed Opetaia and told his entire team, ‘Oh yeah, we’ll let you unify”.
“And of course it wasn’t going to happen”.
“Instead of fighting for a belt that he loves, Jai was stuck fighting for absolutely nothing against a guy who had zero championship experience”.
“You sign with Zuffa and you’ll be tricked into a bunch of s*** just like Jai Opetaia was,”.
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