Oscar De La Hoya has clarified his stance on the exhibition bout between Ryan Garcia and Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo, scheduled for December 30. The Golden Boy promoter insists he isn’t trying to block the event but demands that Garcia honors his contractual obligations.
De La Hoya’s fiery comments followed a press conference in Los Angeles, where Garcia and Anpo faced off. Despite the buzz around the fight, De La Hoya quickly released a statement highlighting that Garcia is still under an exclusive contract with Golden Boy Promotions and that the exhibition had not been approved.
Speaking directly on social media, De La Hoya explained his frustrations with Garcia’s team. “Ryan’s team thought they could negotiate this entire deal behind my back,” De La Hoya said. “When you sign a contract, it’s legally binding. If Golden Boy isn’t included, we’ll have no choice but to pursue legal action.”
Watch their press conference here: Watch
De La Hoya strongly refuted claims that he’s obstructing Garcia’s opportunities. “I want Ryan to make money and fight. But I also expect him to honor the contract we agreed upon. This is about professionalism and respect,” he added.
While De La Hoya hasn’t explicitly shut the door on the bout happening, it’s clear he expects his promotional rights to be fully respected. Whether the December 30 event goes forward or becomes mired in legal battles remains to be seen.
And what do you think? Will this bout eventually happen?
Read about this upcoming bout here.
Image Credit: Fanmio