“We work with every promoter out there,” De La Hoya said to Fighthype. “Even if it has to be Dana White and Zuffa, as much as I hate it, let’s go. Why not? Because the fighters want this fight.
“Ryan wants this fight. He wants to fight Conor Benn. Well, yeah. Hey, let’s make it happen. This is what boxing is all about. You have to work with the promoters to make these fights happen.
“So, I’m not going to get in the way of it. If that’s what Ryan wants, that’s what he’s going to get. It’s a matter of details. It’s a matter of making sure that all parties are happy.”
Ryan remains under contract with Golden Boy Promotions, meaning De La Hoya’s involvement would be required for any agreement to move forward. Benn, meanwhile, has emerged as one of the early faces associated with Zuffa’s planned entry into boxing.
Although De La Hoya has been openly critical of Dana White’s boxing ambitions in the past, he acknowledged that discussions between the two sides would eventually become unavoidable if the fight advances.
“Absolutely,” De La Hoya said when asked if there would eventually need to be conversations with White’s team. “Ultimately, there has to be a conversation, and whether they like it or not, we’re going to maybe be on stage together a few feet away.
“Who knows what might happen? Maybe the press conference will be more exciting than the actual fight because of me and Dana White going at it. Who knows? But I’m ready. You know me.”
The potential matchup would represent one of the biggest fights available in the welterweight division and another example of rival promoters working together to deliver major events. For De La Hoya, personal differences appear secondary if it means giving Garcia the opportunity he has been seeking.
De La Hoya insists the focus remains on making the fight itself a reality, regardless of who is involved behind the scenes.
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