Oscar De La Hoya Wants to Map Out Five-Year Plan With Ryan Garcia
De La Hoya says his relationship with Garcia is salvageable and wants a face-to-face meeting to chart a path forward.
Oscar De La Hoya is not giving up on Ryan Garcia. The Golden Boy Promotions boss told Chris Mannix of DAZN that he believes the relationship can be repaired and wants to sit down with Garcia to map out the next five years of his career.
"It's very salvageable. It's a matter of talking to Ryan," De La Hoya said. He wants an in-person meeting to lay out a plan covering opponent selection, fight frequency and a shared direction for Garcia's future.
The pitch comes at a critical moment. Garcia knocked out Conor Benn in September, and by most accounts he has just one fight remaining on his current Golden Boy deal. Dana White and Zuffa Boxing have made no secret of their interest in signing Garcia once that contract expires. White has been throwing around big money in boxing, with notable purses already going to fighters like Shakur Stevenson, and Garcia would be a centerpiece addition.
De La Hoya is leaning on loyalty and history. He has promoted Garcia since the early days of his career. But in a sport where money talks louder than sentiment, Golden Boy's financial pitch may not match what Zuffa can offer.
No specific opponents or fight dates have been attached to De La Hoya's proposed plan. For now, it is a plea to keep the conversation open before Garcia walks out the door for good.
Oscar knows he is about to lose his biggest star, and this is his Hail Mary. A five-year plan sounds great on paper, but Golden Boy has to answer one question: can you match Zuffa's money? Because right now, I do not think they can.
Ryan Garcia is one of the most marketable fighters in the sport. He just starched Conor Benn. He has crossover appeal that most boxers would kill for. Dana White sees all of that, and Zuffa has the cash to make an offer that Golden Boy simply cannot compete with.
De La Hoya talking about loyalty is understandable. He built Garcia up. But fighters have short careers and they need to maximize their earning window. If Zuffa puts a massive number on the table, no amount of history is going to keep Garcia at Golden Boy. Oscar needs to come to that meeting with a real financial offer, not just a PowerPoint about legacy.
