Oscar De La Hoya Questions Ryan Garcia's Move to Dana White After Current Deal Ends

Oscar De La Hoya has openly taken a stance amid the ongoing clash between Eddie Hearn and Dana White. Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, De La Hoya revealed, "I am Team Eddie right now, because he's cooking Dana." The feud, sparked by White's involvement in the upcoming Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua fight on December 11, continues to captivate boxing fans worldwide.

De La Hoya Plans His Own Response to Dana White

De La Hoya hinted at launching his own comeback against White and TKO's Zuffa Boxing, describing it as "the clap-back of the century." For now, he enjoys watching Hearn take charge of the public sparring. "It's the funniest thing I've ever seen," he said. "Eddie’s just funny and harmless. That's why we get along well now. He knows what to do for his fighters and is a proper promoter. I'm just sitting back, gathering info, and enjoying their bickering."

Harsh Words for Dana White and Zuffa Boxing

De La Hoya’s view of White is far less kind. Despite White insisting that Zuffa Boxing should be judged by year-end 2026 results, De La Hoya already delivers his verdict: "If I were a teacher, they'd be getting an F." He criticized them for merely renting fighters instead of developing champions or building careers from scratch. "Boxing requires emotional investment and time," he explained. "You have to know the fighters personally, care about their lives, and ensure they’re treated right. Dana doesn't want to do that. For him, it’s all numbers and shareholders. That's not how you handle boxers—especially not by firing someone via email."

Controversy Over Oleksandr Gvozdyk’s Release

De La Hoya referenced the incident where former WBC light heavyweight champ Oleksandr Gvozdyk was released by Zuffa through an email in April. Gvozdyk had fought only once under Zuffa, dominating his opponent before suffering a stoppage loss. Though Gvozdyk accepted the decision, many fans criticized the harsh cut, questioning White’s earlier claims about encouraging boxers to take tough fights.

Tension Around Ryan Garcia’s Latest Fight

De La Hoya’s frustration grew after being excluded from the promotion and ringside presence at the September event headlined by Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn. The show was co-promoted by Zuffa and Golden Boy but positioned as a TKO event, with De La Hoya notably absent. "I didn’t have my ringside tickets," he said. "They gave me tickets, but not where I was contractually supposed to sit." Although happy with Garcia’s knockout win, De La Hoya made it clear that being shut out was upsetting.

He promised to discuss this exclusion on his social media series "Clap-back Thursday," adding that White was not behind the move. "Dana has no say here," De La Hoya stated. "There are legal issues involved, so I can't say more until the smoke clears. But when my muzzle is off, I’ll tell the truth." Garcia and De La Hoya have since spoken and remain on good terms.

Future of Ryan Garcia’s Career

Garcia still has one fight left on his Golden Boy deal, though sources suggest an additional bout with DAZN remains on his contract. De La Hoya, who helped build Garcia into a major star, hopes to continue working with him. Yet Garcia has indicated he might not re-sign. De La Hoya doubts Garcia will join White’s Zuffa Boxing afterward. "I don’t think that’s a good fit for him," he said.

Next Opponents and Promoter Plans

De La Hoya plans to meet with Garcia soon to discuss his next fight. He already has his picks in mind: "The guy I wanted from the start is Devin Haney. Devin and Teofimo Lopez are the biggest matchups for Ryan. He’s at an elite level now and should fight the best." He admires Garcia’s competitive spirit and desire to prove himself against top opponents.

While De La Hoya has clear ideas on Garcia’s path forward, whether he will remain Garcia’s promoter beyond the current contract remains uncertain.

• Hearn vs. White: Ongoing public feud surrounding UFC CEO’s involvement in boxing.
• Gvozdyk Release: Former WBC champion fired via email after one fight with Zuffa.
• Garcia vs. Benn Event: Co-promoted by Zuffa and Golden Boy, De La Hoya excluded from promotion and ringside.
• Garcia Contract: One fight left with Golden Boy; possible additional DAZN bout.
• Future Opponents: Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez identified as ideal matches for Garcia.