Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar De La Hoya has continued his war of words with Mexican superstar Saul "Canelo" Alvarez.
De La Hoya was the longtime promoter of Canelo, before the two sides were involved in a legal battle in 2020 and decided to part ways.
De La Hoya, a former six division world champion and retired since 2008, is returning to the ring on September 11 - in an exhibition with MMA legend Vitor Belfort.
“You know what’s happening? Legends and fighters like myself that are retired, the level of competition except for a few, is not as high as ours was," De La Hoya said to FightHype.com.
“We fought really hard. So fighters like [Marco Antonio] Barrera and myself, Erik Morales, we get in shape and fight 10 rounds, we can beat anybody. The way we fought back then, it’s like a no-brainer, so I think that's what's happening. I can do it. I can do it against that champion right there; he's easy, you know?
"I have a saying, America is getting soft, and that’s why I feel like we can do this easily with our eyes closed; it’s a no-brainer. I think that’s what’s happening. All these legends, all these fighters are coming back and saying, ‘I can take this guy with no problem.'"
Since their split, both De La Hoya and Canelo have taken a few verbal swipes at each other.
A few weeks back, De La Hoya made a comment on social media where he criticized the fighting style of Canelo, who hit back by telling the 'Golden Boy' to 'go f--- yourself.'
De La Hoya's comeback plan is fight Belfort, have another exhibition fight - and then try to shoot for a rematch with Floyd Mayweather, who himself recently returned to the ring for an exhibition fight.
And the 48-year-old De La Hoya (39-6, 30 KOs) is also not ruling out the possibility of settling his differences with Canelo in the ring.
He believes his skills are more than enough to overcome an opponent like Canelo.
De La Hoya feels Canelo is very similar to former two division champion Ricardo Mayorga, who Oscar knocked out in 2006.
"I think Canelo is like a Mayorga, he's strong, he's strong like an ox, but strong doesn't win fights - and Floyd Mayweather Jr said that from experience [when he beat Canelo in 2013]. Punching power does not win fights, not at all," De La Hoya said.
"I think every fighter progresses and learns a few tricks here and there. I think he has more punching power; he’s stronger [than when he began with Golden Boy]. But again, power doesn’t win fights when you’re in there with an elite fighter like a Floyd, like myself, somebody that can see the punches coming."
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