Speaking during fight week in Las Vegas, De La Hoya did not soften his view when asked about Stevenson’s decision.
“Shame on him. Shame on him,” De La Hoya said to Fight Hub TV. “Because he knows that as a kid, all he dreamt about was fighting for the green belt.”
Stevenson’s position has drawn attention because sanctioning fees are a standard requirement in title fights, with champions expected to pay a percentage of their purse to the governing body. Some fighters have questioned the system in recent years, particularly as purses have grown larger, but De La Hoya made clear he believes the obligation remains part of being champion.
“It’s not about just paying sanction fees,” De La Hoya said. “You’re going to pay for the kids’ medicals. You’re going to pay for the doctors outside who are going to take care of you. You’re going to pay for all these programs that are continuing to help the sport.”
De La Hoya’s reaction reflects his own experience chasing and defending world titles during his career, when the WBC belt carried deep meaning for fighters trying to establish themselves. He described the belt as something fighters grow up wanting long before they reach the championship level.
Once a fighter reaches that point, he said, the responsibilities attached to the title should not be optional.
“If you don’t want to pay the sanctioning fee, shame on you,” De La Hoya said.
Sanctioning bodies typically charge a percentage of a fighter’s purse in title bouts. In exchange, they provide ranking structure, mandatory challenger enforcement, and the authority to order purse bids if negotiations stall.
Stevenson has built his reputation as one of boxing’s most skilled champions, but his decisions outside the ring have occasionally drawn criticism from promoters and observers. De La Hoya’s comments show that, in his view, the role of champion includes honoring the structure that gives the title its value in the first place.
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