Some fans must be ruing their luck. It would have been the best fight had it occurred. Despite featuring Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney, and Teofimo Lopez, ‘Fatal Fury‘ at Times Square turned into a drab affair. A fourth one could have enlivened it, perhaps. For one, it almost occurred, only it happened a day before, outside the ring – when unbuttoning his suit jacket, Oscar De La Hoya got up from his seat to confront Bill Haney.

But for the security detail’s unsympathetic gesture. Why did they have to intervene when an intriguing brawl was about to unfold? Nevertheless, even if they failed, Haney Sr. and the Golden Boy look determined to carry on their beef. The differences between Devin Haney’s father and Ryan Garcia’s promoter were accentuated when the two young fighters met last April. Given what transpired on the Twitter-scape, it doesn’t seem likely to end anytime soon.

Oscar De La Hoya cold-shouldering Bill Haney

“Oscar blocked me, but he can’t block the truth. 🤦🏽‍♂️,” Bill Haney wrote on his Twitter handle. The post featured a screenshot of the ‘blocked’ message: “@OscarDeLaHoya has blocked you.” So what lit the fuse this time? Another squabble between Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia? Apparently not. It’s the Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford fight that seems to have flared up the latest online rift. You see, unlike many looking forward to the mega fight, as one of the skeptics, Oscar De La Hoya doubts its relevance. His argument primarily rests on the following facts: firstly, while Crawford will turn 38 (on September 28), Canelo is about to turn 35 in July.

Secondly, Crawford’s last fight occurred nine months ago. Though he won, the fight against Israil Madrimov was nonetheless a hotly contested affair. So when he squares up against Canelo, it will have been over 12 months since he last stepped into a ring! Then, De La Hoya remarked that Canelo’s last few outings have been underwhelming as well. So the Olympic gold medalist asked, “Can anyone please explain to me how this is the ‘biggest fight in boxing’?”

Offering full support to the Riyadh Season endeavor, Bill Haney countered, “Turki just made the biggest fight in boxing, Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford. The whole world’s watching now. 🔥.”

But is it what it is?

The Twitter squabble invariably drew a string of comments. While a few sided with Bill Haney, many echoed Oscar De La Hoya’s sentiments. Now, keeping aside a former champion-turned-promoter and a doting father’s differences, digging deep, projecting the Canelo-Crawford face-off as the ‘biggest fight’ does raise a few questions.

No doubts on Crawford’s talent and skills. Neither should one listless performance give an excuse to draw unforgiving conclusions on Canelo’s form and resume. But having said that, to many it appears as if both are saving their best for one fight, a grand finale. When they fought, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao were roughly the same age as Canelo-Crawford. Mayweather, 38; PacMan, 36. However, despite falling short of expectations, their momentous battle transpired following successive title fights/defenses.

Perhaps with Crawford stepping in between to face another light middleweight or a middleweight and Canelo thrashing the daylights out of William Scull could have helped erase the prevailing doubts, like the one De La Hoya declared.

Do you agree with De La Hoya’s stand on the Canelo-Crawford fight?