Oscar De La Hoya criticizes Floyd Mayweather exhibition bouts: ‘You have to stop embarrassing yourself’
Oscar De La Hoya | Photo by Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy/Getty Images
Oscar De La Hoya has some career advice for his old friend Floyd Mayweather.
The post-retirement phase of Mayweather’s career has seen the legendary boxer engage in a number of exhibition bouts with his most recent fight being a rematch against John Gotti III. Mayweather’s first fight with Gotti ended in a chaotic brawl, while the second went the full eight rounds without an official score.
Mayweather has also taken exhibition matchups with Logan Paul, fighter and former reality TV star Aaron Chalmers, and Japanese combat sports stars Mikuru Asakura and Tenshin Nasukawa, to a mostly lukewarm reaction from fight fans.
Count De La Hoya among the detractors. “The Golden Boy” addressed Mayweather’s exploits in a recent video, asking that his fellow retiree hang up the gloves for good.
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“In the middle of the second round [of the Gotti fight], Floyd literally had the referee swapped out,” De La Hoya said on Instagram. “He didn’t like that the referee told him to stop hitting behind the head. Floyd is used to having the refs do whatever he wants and he wasn’t getting his way this time. It was so embarrassing.
“Floyd, you’re 50 years old. You’re a legend in this sport. I’ve stood up for you in countless interviews, including Shannon Sharpe’s podcast last week. But you have to stop embarrassing yourself with these exhibitions. I know life is hard, I know life is expensive, but come on, put your legacy first. Nobody wants to remember you like this.”
De La Hoya went on to address Mayweather’s recent legal problems, which involve the 47-year-old being sued by a Miami jeweler, who alleges that the boxer owes him money for several items acquired in 2021.
From De La Hoya’s perspective, this is all just tough love that Mayweather needs to hear.
“And it gets worse,” De La Hoya said. “Your jeweler filed a lawsuit against you in Miami and many are saying you’re going to have to sell off your assets. I hate seeing this happen and I’ve always said, ‘It’s hard to make money, but it’s even harder to keep it.’
“Floyd, I’m rooting for you, come on, let’s turn it around.”
