Golden Boy Promotions Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya won’t let UFC CEO Dana White get away with his claim that boxing is not giving MMA fighters higher pay. As the former professional boxer noted, this is the reason why there are so many MMA talents crossing over to his sport, citing the upcoming fights of Francis Ngannou and Anthony Joshua.
MMA fighters trying boxing is not new, but White is certainly not loving this, especially the idea that fighters in his industry are moving to the said sport to make more money. And with the company currently in a hot spot due to the antitrust lawsuits it is facing, the UFC executive won’t agree with this. Yet, De La Hoya is ready to prove that the things White is refusing to believe are true.
“The only thing I have to say about that is I think I heard Dana White say something about, ‘These MMA fighters are not making more money in boxing.’ All I can say or do is laugh,” De La Hoya told MMA Mania. “Like, are you kidding me? Why do you think MMA fighters are going into boxing and crossing over for the payday?”
In the past, many MMA fighters have tried boxing, allowing them to witness the big difference in the pay between the two industries. One included Conor McGregor when he made a crossover to face Floyd Mayweather in 2017. Nate Diaz, Tyron Woodley, and, most of all, Francis Ngannou also tried the sport, with the last managing to create a big name in the boxing world after giving Tyson Fury a challenging boxing match. And as shared by one of Ngannou’s coaches, Eric Nicksick, the fighter’s rumored eight-figure pay even benefitted the team, including him, who received “the most money… ever been paid by a fighter.” After the said names, other fighters also expressed interest in trying boxing someday, including UFC’s own Ilia Topuria and Tom Aspinall.
For De La Hoya, the higher pay in the boxing business is the reason behind the trend, stressing this is the reason behind Ngannou facing Anthony Joshua in March.
“That’s the bottom line,” said the boxing promoter exec. “And to test their skill, which is admirable because a MMA fighter going into a ring with an elite fighter not only takes balls but you have to believe in yourself and your skill. And that’s admirable. When Dana White’s saying they’re not making more money it’s bullsh*t. They’re making tons of money inside of the ring in boxing. That’s the bottom line. That’s why you’re seeing Joshua with Ngannou. These guys are warriors.”