What happened in this episode?
Ariel Helwani interviews Golden Boy Promotions chief Oscar De La Hoya ahead of the 10 October Chicago card headlined by lightweight contenders Kid Austin Floyd Schofield and Lucas Badi for the vacant WBA title. De La Hoya praises Schofield’s toughness and compares his willpower to Sugar Ray Leonard, while discussing Golden Boy’s work with Most Valuable Promotions and the shifting broadcast landscape around DAZN and TNT.
The interview then turns to Ryan Garcia’s second-round stoppage of Conor Benn and De La Hoya’s absence from the event. De La Hoya says he was initially set to walk Garcia out alongside Julio César Chávez, but received a morning call from Garcia saying he had “somebody else”. He also claims he did not attend because he was not given the ringside tickets he says he was contractually obligated to receive, adding that legal considerations prevent him from detailing more and teasing an imminent “clapback” aimed at TKO and other unnamed entities.
De La Hoya also attacks Dana White and the TKO/Zuffa boxing initiative, arguing White is not the decision-maker and that others are “pulling the strings”, while saying he is siding with promoter Eddie Hearn in their public feud. He briefly addresses proposed changes to the Muhammad Ali Act, criticises the current state of The Ring brand amid rumours of a sale, and argues boxing is “in the worst place it's ever been” despite Saudi-funded superfights. In closing, he says negotiations are progressing towards a Virgil Ortiz Jr return, potentially against Keith Thurman, with hopes of landing on a Benavidez-led 12 December card.
