Rivalries are a part and parcel of combat sports, but these rivalries don’t extend just to athletes. They cross the border to affect even the biggest promoters. This is evident from the rivalry between Dana White and Oscar De La Hoya. White did not mince words about his fractured relationship with the former boxing champion in a recent interview.
Dana White was interviewed on the Club Shay Shay Podcast by former NFL player Shannon Sharpe. The UFC CEO unleashed a verbal tirade on De La Hoya in a typical fashion. The outspoken CEO labeled De La Hoya a cunning man with no morality and an absolute liar. Moreover, White also said the friendship between them no longer exists.
Oscar De La Hoya is a f***ing two-faced, lying f***ing nut job. Me and Oscar are never going to be cool…Never ever.
Dana White via the Club Shay Shay Podcast
The feud between Dana White and Oscar De La Hoya dates back to 2017. This was when the boxing fight between Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather was announced. White was the co-promoter for the fight. However, De La Hoya was very outspoken about the ‘disrespect’ this ‘money fight’ caused the sport of boxing. This obviously did not sit well with White and thus sparked the start of their rivalry.
While personal insults are common in the combat sports world, the venom between these two appears unusually potent. The two were on good terms before this, but now their friendship is irreparably broken. White’s scorched-earth stance suggested that the feud and rivalry would not stop anytime soon.
When Oscar De La Hoya challenged Dana White to a fight
Physical confrontations between rival promoters are rare, but not because of the lack of trying. Oscar De La Hoya had thrown down the gauntlet to Dana White and challenged the UFC CEO to an actual fight. This was back in 2021 when De La Hoya tried getting Georges St-Pierre to box him in an exhibition match.
Oscar De La Hoya challenged Dana White to an actual fight (via Bad Left Hook)De La Hoya’s outburst stemmed from White allegedly blocking the potential boxing exhibition. With that lucrative opportunity dashed, “Golden Boy” shifted his sights to White. He challenged the then 51-year-old White to a fight.
@danawhite Quit blocking @GeorgesStPierre’s chance to fight. How about we get into the ring first little B*#ch then after I kick your ass, I’ll fight a real man #DeLaHoyaGSP #LetGSPFight.
Oscar De La Hoya via X
For added incentive, the then-48-year-old proposed making the St-Pierre bout the prize if he emerged victorious against the UFC boss. Obviously, this matchup never happened. Nevertheless, this showcased the intense dislike the two harbor against each other. This was just one of many verbal skirmishes between the two combat sports titans.
