Boxing legend rips 'European supporter' Trump, issues him a challenge
Boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya has had one of the most distinguished boxing careers anyone could ask for. He has won multiple world titles across six different weight classes, as well as a gold medal in the 1992 Olympics. On top of all that, De La Hoya has successfully transitioned into a lucrative career as a boxing promoter, setting him up for post-fighting career success that many of his peers can only dream of.
His nickname of “The Golden Boy” has been very much earned.
That being said, one has to wonder what De La Hoya is thinking as he tries to promote his next super fight while bashing President Donald Trump. For as smart and cunning as De La Hoya has been throughout his career, this move just seems like a bad business idea.
While talking to TMZ Sports to promote Golden Boy Production’s highly anticipated sequel to the Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin fight from September 2017, De La Hoya issued a challenge to noted boxing fan Donald Trump.
“I dare him to come! It’ll be great!” De La Hoya said, challenging Trump to attend to Alvarez-Golovkin 2.
De La Hoya had offered Trump a similar challenge before the first Alvarez-Golovkin fight. Trump ultimately did not attend.
With the sequel coming up, De La Hoya is trying to ratchet up the pressure.
If De La Hoya had just dared Trump to attend the fight, it’d be one thing. It’s free publicity and generates easy headlines to boost pay-per-view sales. Where De La Hoya falters is by issuing thinly veiled accusations of racism against Trump.
When asked if he think Trump would be rooting for Alvarez or Golovkin, De La Hoya didn’t mince words.
“I think he’s a Golovkin supporter. I don’t think Trump is a Mexican supporter. He’s more of a European supporter,” De La Hoya said.
First and foremost, Golovkin isn’t European. He’s from the country of Kazakhstan, which is in Central Asia. Calling Trump a “European supporter” in the context of rooting for Golovkin is either blatantly trying to paint the president as a racist or displaying extraordinary ignorance about basic geography. Either way, not the best look for De La Hoya.
Second, there’s nothing inherently wrong with cheering for a fellow countryman in a fight. Even if Trump were cheering for Golovkin because they’re from the same neck of the woods, how is that any different from people from Mexico cheering for Alvarez?
De La Hoya doubled down on his Trump rhetoric by describing where he would seat Trump should he attend the fight.
“I’m not going to sit him ringside,” De La Hoya said. “I’m gonna sit him way up there in the stands with all the Mexicans and all the fight fans from Kazakhstan!”
Setting aside De La Hoya’s views that Mexicans and fight fans from Kazakhstan can’t afford ringside seats, it’s easy to propose something when you know it’ll never happen. De La Hoya is fully aware that the president of the United States would never be allowed to sit in a crowd even if he wanted to. The logistics of security would present an utter nightmare.
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