“Go Out There and Train Hard”: Following Back and Forth on Showtime Exit, Oscar De La Hoya Responds to Terence Crawford

Showtime recently announced its exit and what followed the announcement was, more controversy and speculation. For nearly four decades, Showtime has been a premier platform for broadcasting major fights in the sport. There had been rumors of them shutting their operations for long. However, when the news arrived it was shocking nevertheless. Confirming them, Paramount Global, the network’s parent company, revealed in a statement on Tuesday that Showtime will no longer be airing boxing events after 2023.

Debating on how to proceed forward, everyone is eager to shout out their opinion for the rest to hear. Oscar De La Hoya and Terence Crawford have been feuding on X ever since the announcement. Crawford and De La Hoya have been wrangling over whether or not boxers should have an active role to play in the business of it all. De La Hoya in a recent interview with FightHype.com tried to explain his side of the argument. Let us find out.

Oscar De La Hoya’s advice to Terence Crawford

The 6-division world champion has pocketed the experience of being both a boxer and a promoter. Based on this, he believes Crawford will only deviate attention from training by involving himself in business. According to him, the team of talented people that he has employed are the ones he should be delegating all the extra work to. Explaining the point De La Hoya said, “What I responded to Crawford was- you have competent and smart people on your team for a reason. You delegate as the fighter because you are the business owner.”

The promoter believes Crawford should stick with what he does best. Compromising on his craft will not yield the best results. “See, I have been a fighter myself. 11-time world champion, gold-medalist, 6-division so what I mean to Crawford is focus on what you do best. From my experience, when you go off and try to do something else, guess what? You take time away from your training. You take time away from being focused and working on your craft,” reiterated De La Hoya.

Drawing from his experience, De La Hoya advised Crawford to take advantage of the small window that boxers get and not get involved in the business of it all.

How did the feud start?

Differing perspectives on the future of boxing have emerged in the wake of Showtime’s announcement, marking the end of its longstanding relationship with the sport. Oscar De La Hoya and Terence Crawford have offered contrasting viewpoints. De La Hoya emphasized the importance of increased cooperation among promoters, advocating for a unified approach. On the other hand, Crawford stressed the vital role of fighters in the business side of boxing, advocating for their active involvement to foster growth.

Read More: Despite Picking Terence Crawford Earlier, Oscar De La Hoya Contradicts Himself While Contemplating “Huge Event” Against Canelo Alvarez

However, Crawford was critical of De La Hoya’s stance, feeling it sidelined the significance of the fighters’ role. In response, De La Hoya suggested that fighters should concentrate on their craft while their representatives handled the business aspects on their behalf. This exchange highlights the ongoing dialogue within the boxing community about the best path forward for the sport.

The involvement of boxers in the business will give them better autonomy and provide transparency. At the same time, it will add another headache of having to keep everything in order while shortening their time dedicated to training. To strike the right balance becomes imperative in such a scenario. Where do you think the line should be drawn?

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