De La Hoya: Boxing better off without 'boring' Mayweather
Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Oscar De La Hoya only met once in the ring - a split-decision victory by the undefeated Mayweather in 2007 - but the "Golden Boy" is getting his revenge eight years later through journalistic jabs, instead of using his fists.
De La Hoya penned a farewell letter to the recently retired Mayweather, in which the former Olympic gold medalist called the 38-year-old "afraid," and stated that "the fight game will be a better one without you in it."
"You were afraid. Afraid of risk. A perfect example is your greatest 'triumph,' the long-awaited record-breaking fight between you and Manny Pacquiao," wrote De La Hoya about the May 2 fight that broke revenue records in the sport. "Nearly 4.5 million buys! More than $400 million in revenue! Headlines worldwide! How can that be bad for boxing?
"Because you lied. You promised action and entertainment and a battle for the ages, and you delivered none of the above. The problem is, that's precisely how you want it."
The California native unleashed numerous other shots at "Money" throughout the letter, including a couple well-veiled jabs about his final fight opponent, Andre Berto.
"Everyone in boxing knew Berto didn't have a chance. I think more people watched 'Family Guy' reruns that night than tuned in to that pay-per-view bout," wrote the 42-year-old. "When my kids have trouble falling asleep, I don't have to read to them anymore. I just play them your Berto fight. They don't make it past round three."
De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions has co-promoted the majority of Mayweather's fights since 2007, another area where he attacks Mayweather.
"Boxing will also be a better place without the Mouth. Your mouth, to be precise, the one that created 'Money' Mayweather. I know you needed that Money persona," wrote De La Hoya. "Before he and Golden Boy Promotions came along, nobody watched your fights. You couldn't even sell out your hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The mouth made you money. More money than you could spend in a lifetime."
De La Hoya hasn't fought since 2009, but after these words, a rematch between the two former champions would probably be far from a "boring" Mayweather fight.