“They’re Going to Break Your Heart”: Oscar De La Hoya Opens Up About His Estranged Relationship With Ryan Garcia

Many consider calamity a litmus test of a relationship’s intensity and strength. One often finds himself surrounded by well-wishers and hangers-on during good times. But once he bottoms out, the posse starts thinning. Great relationships turn sour. From what it appears, Oscar De La Hoya‘s terms with Ryan Garcia are hanging by a thin thread. With the duo’s association turning acerbic under wide public eyes and now a court case in hand, the former world champion-turned-promoter, Oscar De La Hoya poured his heart out in an interview with Ariel Helwani.

Ryan Garcia joined the Golden Boy stable in 2016. The Californian was on a winning streak under the promotions, from a regional title holder to a world championship, albeit an interim one. However, the juggernaut stopped before the bulldozing Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis. Their momentous clash not only ended in a humiliating defeat but also brought forth the fissures niggling the young boxer’s relations with Oscar De La Hoya.

The Oscar De La Hoya and Ryan Garcia row

A much-publicized fallout on Twitter confirmed the duo’s dejection. Last month, reports of Golden Boy Promotions filing a lawsuit in the United States District Court, District of Nevada, against Ryan Garcia made headlines. Per the former’s complaint, the boxer failed to honor the ‘valid promotional agreement.’ Now making a clean breast of things, De La Hoya spoke at length with ace MMA journalist Ariel Helwani.

Responding to Helwani’s question, “Where do think [you] stand with Ryan Garcia?” on MMA Hour, De La Hoya replied, “We have a lawsuit right now.. I’m not suing him for money. He’s not suing me for money. I just want him to honor my contract. That’s it.” The MMA journalist wanted to know whether Ryan Garcia was trying to escape their relationship. ‘The Golden Boy’ flatly denied.

He said, “Just honor the contract; that’s it. You have obligations. I want you [Garcia] to fight, I want you [Garcia] to be a legend. Do you think I wanted him to fight Tank Davis with a rehydration clause? Hell, no…” De La Hoya says a few individuals have been seemingly influencing ‘KingRy’ against him. They appear to lure him to greener pastures and then emphasize his point. ‘The Golden Boy’ highlighted the roughly $30 million Garcia made from the ‘Tank’ Davis fight.

A boxing promoter till the end

Ariel Helwani asked, “Does it bum you out that the relationship has reached this point?” Oscar De La Hoya then shared what he learned from the legendary promoter Bob Arun. He said, “Bob Arum once told me, ‘Oscar, you’re going to be disappointed, and they’re going to break your heart,’ meaning fighters, So don’t take it personally.” Given the publicity their slanging match attracted, Helwani wanted to know if alternate ways to resolve the issues were considered.

De La Hoya said, “Well, look, people have kept me away from him…” Quashing any hopes of them sitting and talking face-to-face, he emphasized his love for boxing and shared the desire to be in the promotional business as long as possible. When Helwani checked whether he would promote Ryan Garcia’s next fight, ‘The Golden Boy’ answered in the affirmative.

Read More: “Please Use Me as an Example”: Oscar De La Hoya Shares a Motivational Message Regarding Mental Health

What is your take on De La Hoya’s observations? Please share your thoughts and views with us in the comments below.

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