Oscar De La Hoya has helped build some of boxing’s biggest attraction fighters, but Ryan Garcia’s exit leaves the Golden Boy boss facing a harsh reality: history is repeating itself in a carbon-copy rerun of his messy split with Canelo Alvarez.
The Canelo Fallout: A Relationship Destroyed
De La Hoya played a pivotal role in transforming Canelo into boxing’s ultimate pay-per-view juggernaut, yet their partnership ended in complete collapse.
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The 2020 Lawsuit: Canelo sued Golden Boy and DAZN to secure his release and take full control of his career.
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Ongoing Bad Blood: The bitter rivalry persisted for years, erupting into a face-to-face shouting match during the 2024 Jaime Munguia fight week.
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Unanswered Questions: De La Hoya admitted he still doesn’t fully grasp why the relationship disintegrated, stating in 2025: “I hope so because I need the answer.”
Ryan Garcia Repeats the Cycle
Signed as an undefeated 18-year-old prospect in 2016, Garcia was given the ultimate platform by Golden Boy. However, disputes began as early as 2019 and escalated significantly after his 2023 clash with Gervonta Davis.
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Blocked Opportunities: In 2024, Golden Boy blocked Garcia’s proposed exhibition against Rukiya Anpo citing exclusive rights. Garcia subsequently blamed De La Hoya when a blockbuster deal with Jake Paul fell through.
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A Snubbed Final Night: Garcia completed his Golden Boy deal by dominating Conor Benn to retain his WBC welterweight title at the T-Mobile Arena—without De La Hoya present.
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Cancelled Ring Walk: De La Hoya was scheduled to walk Garcia to the ring alongside Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., but Garcia’s team revoked the invitation on the morning of the fight (as confirmed by PR rep Jane Murcia).
A Pattern That Must Be Broken
Golden Boy has lost other major names over the years—including Floyd Mayweather, Deontay Wilder, Errol Spence Jr., and the Charlo brothers (though the Al Haymon factor created different circumstances).
Canelo and Garcia stand out because both became global superstars under Golden Boy, and both left with their personal relationships with De La Hoya completely fractured. De La Hoya has proven he can build boxing’s biggest attractions; now he must figure out how to keep them.
