‘I’m more Puerto Rican than Berlanga’: DLH says Canelo vs Berlanga shouldn’t be billed as Mexico vs Puerto Rico

Oscar De La Hoya weighs in on a number of current topics in the sport.

Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya takes some time to field some questions on the recent big Riyadh Season card headlined by Terence Crawford vs Israil Madrimov, an upcoming show in Canelo Alvarez vs Edgar Berlanga, and his willingness to make a Shakur Stevenson vs William Zepeda fight. Check out some excerpts of what he had to say below.

De La Hoya on the Crawford vs Madrimov card

“I felt pretty bad for Jared who got knocked out against a beast. That kid reminded me of George Foreman — heavy-handed, big kid. I feel Jared will be back. It was a great fight, no shame in his game, he’s a great fighter.

“Pitbull, short end. It happens. He fought hard but overall I think, you know, Crawford obviously closed the show with a great victory. It was a tough fight, can call for a rematch. We’ll see but, you know. I’m really looking forward to Vergil Ortiz this Saturday, ‘cause possibly the winners can fight each other, Crawford and Vergil.

“That can happen. We’re looking into hopefully Vergil winning this Saturday, he can go against Tim Tszyu later this year, and then the winner of Tim Tszyu vs Vergil Ortiz can face Terence Crawford.”

On Canelo vs Berlanga

“I think the one thing that is not real, that I feel, that they’re building this fight as Mexico vs Puerto Rico. I don’t know. I don’t know if that’s real because the last time I checked Berlanga was from New York. The last time I checked I think I’m more Puerto Rican than Berlanga. I lived there for six years so I know. I know what people love, I know who they gonna support...I think, yeah, it will be a good fight but don’t bill it as Mexico vs Puerto Rico.”

On if he believes Eddie Hearn is standing in the way of Shakur Stevenson vs William Zepeda

“No, no. That fight, I don’t think nobody will get in the way of that fight. Look, I’m Zepeda’s promoter and I actually want to make that fight. I think Shakur right now skill-wise is probably the best fighter on the planet today. Tremendous, tremendous skills, but he has to be able to sell tickets. And his boxing style is not that friendly to sell tickets but I think William Zepeda vs Shakur Stevenson is a huge fight, it will happen, but no, Eddie Hearn is not in the way of making that fight.”