Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar De La Hoya has a couple of goals he wants to check off in his career.
One of them apparently involves getting rid of the company he founded.
“I’m sitting on a billion-dollar company,” De La Hoya told ESPN. “And I can’t wait to get rid of it. And most importantly, I can’t wait to be the very first fighter ever to be inducted into the Hall of Fame as a promoter as well. These are goals that I have.”
De La Hoya founded the company in 2002, naming the venture after the nickname he carried throughout his storied career. Representing the United States, the Mexican American won a gold medal at the 1992 Olympics, earning himself the “Golden Boy” moniker.
De La Hoya promotes some of boxing’s top young fighters, including Ryan Garcia, the lightweight contender who is scheduled to face Javier Fortuna on July 16. Other prominent contenders include Vergil Ortiz, Jaime Munguia and woman champion Seniesa Estrada. De La Hoya also formerly promoted Canelo Alvarez, one of boxing’s biggest stars, before Alvarez split to form his own promotional company.
De La Hoya and Garcia have stumped for a fight against Gervonta “Tank” Davis, who is coming off a win over Rolly Romero in a pay-per-view event at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
“I’m ready to give Tank Davis a multi-, multimillion dollar [deal] to fight Ryan Garcia in November,” De La Hoya said. “I strongly feel that’s the fight to make. Those are the types of fights that make superstars.”
That’s not the only fight De La Hoya is looking for. He said he continues to seek a match between Munguia and WBC middleweight champion Jermall Charlo and hopes to put rising welterweight contender Vergil Ortiz Jr. against Errol Spence Jr., who holds three of the four belts in the 147-pound division. In an extended interview on his network, Showtime executive Stephen Espinoza said Munguia-Charlo negotiations broke down over who would broadcast the fight.
De La Hoya, 49, said he wants to continue to be involved with Golden Boy for “as long as possible” while he believes the company has plenty to offer for a potential investor.
“We’re sitting on a gold mine,” De La Hoya said. “When I’m ready to get out, the time will come. But in the meantime, that’s the reason I want to make these big fights happen. It’s crucial.
“It’s crucial for the sport. It’s crucial for my company. It’s crucial, most importantly, for the fan base.”