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Ryan Garcia and Oscar De La Hoya’s Relationship Takes An Unexpected Turn Days Before Devin Haney Showdown

Published 04/14/2024, 1:08 PM EDT

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A heated battle is brewed outside the ropes. Ryan Garcia locked in a legal brawl against his promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, led by boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya. The 25-year-old, fresh off his first professional loss, threw legal jabs, claiming Golden Boy breached their contract. Mediation is set for October, but Garcia’s not waiting for a referee’s decision.

While he knocked out Oscar Duarte in his next fight, his lawyers aimed to knock out the contract in court. Simultaneously, Golden Boy isn’t going down without a fight. They’ve filed a lawsuit to enforce the deal, accusing Garcia’s manager of interference. Garcia, however, remains confident, focusing on getting back in the ring against Devin Haney. Moreover, their relationship has also seemed to have improved in all these months.

Is Ryan Garcia ready to be friends with Oscar De La Hoya?

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In the recent workout session ahead of the Devin Haney fight, Ryan Garcia and Oscar De La Hoya was seen hugging each other while wearing a wide grin on their faces. Moreover, in the next moment, they even shared a laugh and fist-bumped each other in the end. This amicable relationship is the result of their efforts in settling things over a dinner last month.

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Dinner. Two plates, steaming with unspoken tension. Oscar De La Hoya, boxing legend, eyed Ryan Garcia, an young prodigy simmering with frustration. Months of public spats had left a bitter taste. So, De La Hoya revealed, “Communication is everything. He’s always been good to me, he’s always been a good kid, and I’ve always felt it in him that he wants to fight the best.

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He further added, “I asked him last night; ‘What do you want to do in boxing?’ He started saying this, that, and I go, ‘No, but do you want to be a legend?’ He said, ‘That’s my number one goal, to be a legend.” Not only this, a couple of days ago, De La Hoya even praised Garcia for his willingness to fight the best.

Oscar De La Hoya sings words of praises about Garcia

Oscar De La Hoya sees a spark of his own past in rising star Ryan Garcia. With Garcia stepping up to challenge Devin Haney for the world title, De La Hoya reminisces about an era where fighters weren’t afraid to face the best. “He’s willing to fight the best. We had an era where everybody was fighting everybody. I did, I built it up, basically. Now we’re going back to that era,” De La Hoya said, commending Garcia’s willingness to challenge himself.

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This isn’t just about glory, though. De La Hoya emphasizes the importance of putting it all on the line. “This is what it’s all about: the best fighting the best. Business will go on. The money will follow… If you become a marketable fighter, a fighter who fights the best, a fighter who is willing to put his [undefeated record] on the line, then the money will follow you,” he stated.

For Garcia, the upcoming fight is a chance to prove himself. Can he capture the title and usher in a new golden age of boxing alongside his promoter’s legacy? What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments section.

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Written by:

Chirag Radhyan

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Chirag Radhyan is a senior boxing writer at EssentiallySports. Having authored close to 2K articles, he is a live-coverage specialist, contributing to the detailed reportage of live boxing events ranging from the Jermell Charlo vs Canelo Alvarez bout to Ryan Garcia vs Gervonta Davis. Moreover, his coverage of the off-court drama between Jake Paul and Tommy Fury received widespread appreciation from readers.
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Edited by:

Sampurna Pal