Promoter Oscar De La Hoya accepted Eddie Hearn’s request for a 5 vs 5 Golden Boy vs. Former six-division world champion De La Hoya wants to make it 6 vs 6, and face Hearn in the final.
Hearn, 45, has no boxing experience and will have no chance of facing De La Hoya, 51, in a fight.
De La Hoya said Hearn must adapt to the fights being contested in a “small ring” so that neither fighter “can run,” which is a dig at Shakur Stevenson for his dominant style.
WBC lightweight champion Shakur (22-0, 10 KOs) will have a tough time against high-volume fighter Zepeda (31-0, 27 KOs) at a smaller distance 16-foot ring. Although Hearn acknowledged the Stevenson-Zepeda fight, he did not address De La Hoya’s condition that it should be in a smaller ring than the 24-foot one that Shakur might insist on.
De La Hoya 5 vs 5 in the “Tiny Ring”
– Vergil Ortiz vs Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis
– Jaime Munguia vs Diego Pacheco
– William Zepeda vs Shakur Stevenson
– Oscar Duarte vs. Devin Haney
– Jose Ramirez vs. Arnold Barboza: Winner vs. Jack Catterall
Devin Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) is coming off a three-fight, 12-round multiple decision loss to Ryan Garcia on April 20 at the Barclays Center. Haney took a lot of punishment in that fight, and he probably won’t take on a slugger like Oscar Duarte (27-2-1, 22 KOs).
IBF promoted welterweight champion ‘Boots’ Ennis (32-0, 29 KOs) has not fought at 154, and may not be ready to face undefeated WBC junior middleweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. (22-0, 21) KO) in his weight class debut.
Ortiz Jr. he is coming off a hard-fought majority decision win over Serhii Bohachuk on August 10 in a fight that many fans feel is a lost cause. Ortiz Jr. may be dragging his feet on the idea of fighting Boot Ennis, because it involves risk. He didn’t want to give Bohachuk a rematch to get rid of the controversy in their fight.
Only three fights that De La Hoya is interested in have a chance of being made. In response to De La Hoya’s request, Hearn stated that he is not promoting Devin Haney, but will ask him if he is willing to fight Duarte. Hearn also reminds De La Hoya that he is no longer promoting Munguia. He’s in Top Rank now, but if he comes back, that’s possible.
“Boots v Ortiz – AGREEED. Munguia v Pacheco, he left you at Top Rank but if you can bring him back AGREE. Shakur v Zepeda AGREE. Duarte v Haney, Devin is not officially with us but happy to fight and chat with him. Caterrall v Barboza/Ramirez AGREE,” said Eddie Hearn on X, agreeing to the five fights proposed by Oscar De La Hoya but not mentioning the challenge of the fight between them.
Your favorite time of the week!!!!! 🍆👏🍆👏 pic.twitter.com/hgvQeS3rVW
— Oscar De La Hoya (@OscarDeLaHoya) November 7, 2024
