Oscar De La Hoya has dismissed as “nonsense” suggestions he avoided Ryan Garcia’s press conference after his defeat by Gervonta Davis because of increasing tension between them.
Garcia lost for the first time in April when he was stopped in seven rounds by “Tank” Davis, and after his post-fight press conference much was made of the absence of De La Hoya, his promoter, and his trainer Joe Goossen.
He has since split with Goossen and replaced him with Derrick James, and he is also nearing the announcement of his next fight after asking Golden Boy Promotions to deliver one of Teofimo Lopez, Isaac Cruz, and Rolando “Rolly” Romero.
Promoter and fighter – Garcia, who is Golden Boy’s highest-profile fighter, was supported throughout fight week in Las Vegas by De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins – have regardless publicly exchanged words since Garcia’s objection to De La Hoya’s suggestion he instead fight Manny Pacquiao, but asked about the speculation surrounding them, De La Hoya responded: “I don’t follow or listen to those comments – it’s just nonsense.
In Nacho Beristain, Freddie Roach, Floyd Mayweather Snr, Gil Clancy, Emanuel Steward, Jesus Rivero and Robert Alcazar, De La Hoya was influenced by some of the leading trainers of his era.
He continues to speak with particular enthusiasm about Mayweather Snr, whose services he wasn’t able to secure for his defeats by Floyd Mayweather Jnr and Manny Pacquiao – his final two defeats and two of his final three fights – and supported Garcia’s decision to replace Goossen, who this week will be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, with perhaps the world’s most in-demand trainer in James.
“If Ryan Garcia didn’t feel that Joe Goossen was much of a help, then obviously he has a right to choose any trainer he wants to, and I believe he made the right choice,” the promoter said. “The [new] trainer he chose is a good teacher.
“Not only does he train Errol Spence, one of the best welterweights in the game today, but he has several fighters under his tutelage that he’s taught; that he’s helped to grow and go better. The school that he teaches is far superior from a lot of trainers out there.
“Why would you want to stay stuck in one place and not learn? That’s exactly what I did – I had seven different trainers. I learned from every single one, and that’s why I was able to win 11 world titles in six weight divisions.”
