Canelo Alvarez’s “Ungrateful” Behavior: Oscar De La Hoya Reflects On Fighter Loyalty

Oscar De La Hoya says he believes Canelo Alvarez’s beef with him and Golden Boy Promotions was due to him being “jealous’ of the way that people would focus on him when they were in the same room. De La Hoya states that he’s a “straight shooter,” and had done nothing to cause Canelo to be angry with him.

Canelo’s “Ungrateful” Behavior

Oscar says that some fighters become “ungrateful” at some point and don’t care about the positive things he’s done for their careers.

“Ever since Canelo was able to fight in the States at 18 years old, we signed him, promoted him, and made his career,” said promoter Oscar De La Hoya to Ring Champs about how Canelo Alvarez got his start with Golden Boy Promotions. “There’s a point where fighters become ungrateful. It’s pretty sad.”

“You do everything for them, and then they slap you in the [face]. There’s nothing. He can’t say anything,” said De La Hoya when asked if he did something to make Canelo turn against him. “I did nothing. Please tell me what I did so I won’t make the same mistake.”

Canelo reportedly felt that De La Hoya was unreliable with how his career was being run while he was still with Golden Boy.

Oscar’s Rehab Confession

“I was going through some turmoil [in the past]. It’s no secret. Rehab, this and that. I actually called Canelo while I was in rehab. I said, ‘Sorry, because I’m in here. I can’t make it.’ He said, ‘I understand. We’re going to win,’ and that’s that,” said De La Hoya,

De La Hoya’s Jealousy Claim

“There weren’t issues. That’s why I don’t understand. It could be jealousy because I remember that every time I would go into a room where he was, all the attention turned to me. I’m not being [egotistical]. Yeah, I got a love. So, it’s like there must be some kind of jealousy there. That’s all I could think about.”

It’s understandable why people would focus on De La Hoya rather than Canelo if they were in the same room. Oscar is more approachable, personable, telling jokes, and keeping things light. Canelo was more serious, not smiling a lot, and he didn’t speak English for a while.

Oscar’s Straight Shooter View

“We’re straight shooters. That’s what we do in boxing,” said De La Hoya. “That’s why I’ve been a promoter for 20+ years. We’re straight shooters. I’m a fighter myself. So, I know what it’s like to be cheated. I know what it’s like to have promoters promise you this and that.

“Zero whatsoever,” said De La Hoya when asked if there were any issues with him and Canelo. “I hope so, because I need the answer,” said Oscar when told by Ring Champs that they’re going to have Canelo on the show and they’ll ask him what the issue was with De La Hoya. “I’m trying to figure it out because I need the answer.”