By Miguel Rivera
In a few recent interviews, Floyd Mayweather Jr. has built a storm of controversy with his statements regarding racism play a major role in combat sports. Mayweather feels that certain white athletes in combat sports are politically favored over other talent athletes who happen to be black.
Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya gave his thoughts on the matter. De La Hoya, a Mexican-American, rejected Mayweather's claim of ongoing racism in boxing and certain athletes being favored over others.
"There is no racism in boxing at all. If you're a champion or not a champion, people love you or they won't, period," De La Hoya told ESPN Deportes.
"Look, if you're going to run and not provide the people with a show, you are not going to be wanted. But if you're going to knock people out and give the people a show, the people will worship you and racism has nothing to do with it."
De La Hoya and Mayweather have never really seen eye to eye. Late last year they were trading words after De La Hoya wrote a letter for Playboy Magazine which criticized the career of Mayweather.
They fought each other in 2007, with Mayweather winning a very close twelve round split decision. The fight generated the biggest buyrate on pay-per-view, with 2.4 million buys. The record stood for eight years, until last year's Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao PPV crushed it with a buyrate of 4.6 million.
