Oscar De La Hoya still believes he can patch things up with Ryan Garcia. He wants a face-to-face sit-down to map out Garcia’s next five years. A real plan requires far more than settling personal grudges. It means picking the right opponents, setting a busy fight schedule, agreeing on a shared vision.
“It’s very salvageable. It’s a matter of talking to Ryan, sitting down with him, and mapping out his career for the next five years. I’m still hoping for that,” De La Hoya told Chris Mannix of DAZN.
Dana White presents a huge hurdle for that proposal. White wants to sign Ryan to Zuffa Boxing as soon as his current promotional deal expires. Garcia knocked out Conor Benn in September, prompting White to point out that only one Golden Boy bout remains on the table. That leaves De La Hoya chasing a massive commitment while a rival promoter circles.
Money talks here. Zuffa could throw a mountain of cash at Garcia, forcing Golden Boy to match those numbers. While nobody has confirmed an official Zuffa bid yet, White’s open pursuit gives Ryan every reason to test the market before signing away five prime years.
Ryan does not need a guru whispering in his ear to understand basic math. When guys like Conor Benn and Shakur Stevenson are pulling down massive purses under the Zuffa banner, Garcia is bound to take notice. Garcia brings mainstream eyes and instant revenue every time he steps in the ring.
Seeing Zuffa dump bags of cash on fighters who lack punch or fan appeal sends an unmistakable signal. If White is willing to overpay for them, Ryan’s market value to that outfit is through the roof. De La Hoya appeals to loyalty because it costs nothing. Golden Boy simply cannot compete with Dana White by offering sentiment, old memories, and long-term promises. Unless Oscar matches the sheer financial muscle Zuffa is flashing, Garcia has no business sticking around.