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Oscar De La Hoya, one of boxing’s most iconic figures, openly calls for fellow legend Floyd Mayweather to permanently retire from the ring. De La Hoya’s plea comes after Mayweather’s latest exhibition match, which he claims is tarnishing Mayweather’s legacy.
Mayweather officially retired from professional boxing in 2017, capping off his perfect 50-0 record with a high-profile victory over UFC star Conor McGregor. Despite his retirement, Mayweather has continued to participate in exhibition matches, facing off against various celebrities and influencers rather than professional fighters.
His most recent exhibition, held on August 24, saw him go toe-to-toe with John Gotti III in Mexico City. The match, lacking in excitement and without any knockdowns, ended in a no-contest, resulting in a chorus of boos from the disappointed crowd. The absence of official scoring due to the exhibition nature of the bout only added to the event's lackluster appeal.
De La Hoya, who has been vocal about his disapproval of Mayweather’s post-retirement career choices, took to Instagram to express his frustration.
“Floyd Mayweather fought another exhibition against Gotti last Saturday, a real sh*t show that left the crowd booing in the arena at the end,” De La Hoya said.
He highlighted a bizarre moment during the match when Mayweather had the referee replaced mid-fight, allegedly due to disagreements over calls.
“Floyd is used to having the refs do whatever he wants, and he wasn’t getting his way this time,” De La Hoya remarked.
Addressing Mayweather directly, De La Hoya implored,
“It was so embarrassing. Floyd, you’re 50 years old. You’re a legend in this sport... But you have to stop embarrassing yourself with these exhibitions. I know life is hard and expensive, but come on man, put your legacy first. Nobody wants to remember you like this.”
Since his professional retirement, Mayweather has participated in eight exhibition bouts. Despite the criticism, Mayweather appears unphased, showing no signs of ending these non-competitive appearances.
The history between De La Hoya and Mayweather is rich, dating back to their highly-publicized 2007 fight for the WBC middleweight title, a match that ended in a split decision victory for Mayweather. Today, as both men navigate the boxing world as promoters, De La Hoya’s plea serves as a poignant reminder of the delicate balance between maintaining one’s legacy and staying in the limelight.
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