Francis Ngannou has proved Dana White wrong once again. ‘The Predator’ will now face Anthony Joshua in his second professional boxing match in Saudi Arabia. As such, White’s rival and boxing Hall of Famer Oscar De La Hoya took a jibe at the UFC CEO, while giving his take on MMA fighters crossing over to boxing.
‘The Predator’ shocked the combat sports world after he went toe-to-toe with Tyson Fury in his first boxing match. He may not have won the fight, but it was a moral victory for the former UFC champion. Now that Francis Ngannou has his second big-name opponent, Oscar De La Hoya had something to say about Dana White’s earlier statements about MMA fighters crossing over to boxing. Let’s see what the ‘Golden Boy’ had to say.
Oscar De La Hoya ridicules Dana White
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
With the news of Anthony Joshua fighting Francis Ngannou taking over the combat sports world, Oscar De La Hoya addressed the media about MMA fighters competing in boxing. De La Hoya mentioned how Dana White claimed that there was no money to be made for MMA athletes in boxing and ridiculed the UFC CEO.
“I heard Dana White say something about, ‘Well, these MMA fighters are not making more money in boxing’. All I could do was laugh,” said Oscar De La Hoya. He mentioned that many MMA fighters have crossed over to the squared circle to get the biggest paycheck they can.
“Are you kidding me? Why do you think MMA fighters are going into boxing? [They’re] crossing over for the payday,” ‘Golden Boy’ further stated. Not only that, he also praised the MMA fighters for making the move to boxing and, in the case of Francis Ngannou, fighting the biggest names in the sport.
Oscar Del La Hoya talks about MMA fighters crossing over into boxing: “A MMA fighter going into the ring with an elite fighter takes balls and you have to believe in yourself…that’s admirable” pic.twitter.com/HTw5ikzlhi
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) January 6, 2024
“That’s it and that’s the bottom line. And [MMA fighters crossed over] to test their skills, which is admirable because an MMA fighter going into the ring with an elite fighter not only takes ba**s… you have to believe in yourself… that’s admirable,” Oscar De La Hoya added. Furthermore, he even encouraged more fighters to join the boxing world. Let’s have a look at that front.
De La Hoya encourages MMA fighters to come over to boxing and make “real money”
Oscar De La Hoya dismissed Dana White’s comments about MMA fighters not making enough money in boxing. The ‘Golden Boy’ mentioned that athletes in boxing are making a lot of money and mentioned Francis Ngannou fighting Anthony Joshua as one of those examples. Furthermore, he even brought up the name of UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley, who’s asking to fight Gervonta Davis.
“When Dana White said, ‘Well, they are not making more money’, [that’s] bullsh*t. They’re making tons of money… That why we’re seeing [Anthony] Joshua with Ngannou, that’s why you’re seeing this other kid with the pink hair [O’Malley] calling out… These guys are warriors, man,” De La Hoya further stated.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Watch This Story: Everything You Need To Know About Upcoming Saudi Arabia Fight Card Including Dmitry Bivol, Deontay Wilder And Anthony Joshua
Seeing all these developments between boxers and MMA fighters, Oscar De La Hoya urged the latter to make the move to boxing and earn more than what they do while fighting inside an eight-sided cage. “I’m happy for them [MMA fighters]. Hey, make all the money. Come to our side of the street and make the real money,” ‘Golden Boy’ added.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
It seems like things are working out for Francis Ngannou after departing from the UFC and getting into a highly public feud with Dana White. It remains to be seen if he can do to Anthony Joshua what he couldn’t against Tyson Fury and defeat the British boxer. We will have to wait and see how that pans out for ‘The Predator’ when he gets back inside the squared circle.
Read More: Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou Fight Details Including Date, Venue, Rules, and More