By Miguel Rivera
Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar de la Hoya believes that some promoters are not willing to give fans the best fights simply because about the risk that those fights represent.
And despite this, De La Hoya says Golden Boy Promotions has imposed a policy of putting together quality fights for their stable of boxers.
A few weeks ago, Joseph Diaz and Saddam Ali, De La Hoya's fighters, lost in world championship bouts against Gary Russell and Jaime Munguía, fighters from other promotional companies, and De La Hoya says those outcomes will not stand in the way of Golden Boy's plan to keep quality over quantity.
A few weeks ago Golden Boy matched Venezuela's Jorge Linares in a losing effort against Vasiliy Lomachenko at Madison Square Garden in New York City, and in the coming weeks Lucas Matthysse and Canelo Alvarez are scheduled to take risks against Manny Pacquiao and Gennady Golovkin in two high-profile matches.
"That's what it's about, working with everyone, working with the best promoters in the world so that the fans can see the best fights," De La Hoya told ESPN Deportes.
"In today's boxing landscape, a lot of the other promoters.. it's not that they are afraid, but they are not taking risks to make the best fights for the public - because they may lose their fighter. It's not our case.. if our fighter is ready for a championship fight or to fight with the best in the world - we do it... that's how we are, we think of the fans first.
"We are promoting in Puerto Rico, aligned with Miguel Cotto Promotions, it is a very nice relationship and we want to develop Puerto Rican boxing. Puerto Rican boxing that is very important for boxing. (Alberto) Machado will be fighting in July on HBO, it will be a very important fight for him, we will continue to grow and make boxing in Puerto Rico.
"We are very happy with ESPN, they have given us a great platform to present excellent fights, the ratings are excellent, it is an international platform for boxers and Golden Boy, and we will continue to present the best fights."
