Dana White and Oscar De La Hoya's Latest Boxing-MMA Feud

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Dana White and Oscar De La Hoya Clash Over Boxing’s Future

The feud between UFC CEO and president Dana White and former boxing champion and Golden Boy Promotions president Oscar De La Hoya intensified around the Ryan Garcia–Connor Benn fight. The event was put together by Zufa, aired on Paramount, and involved White, while De La Hoya represents Garcia.

De La Hoya did not attend the fight, saying he feared he would be set up or embarrassed through his seating or level of access. White disputed that explanation, saying De La Hoya had a ticket, knew where he would sit, had access to the VIP area, and was expected to walk out with Garcia.

The rivalry extends beyond that event. De La Hoya has criticized MMA, the UFC, and White, while White has argued that boxing has declined and has pointed to promoters such as De La Hoya as part of the problem.

Zufa is also working on the Tyson Fury–Anthony Joshua fight. Eddie Hearn, who represents Joshua and is a boxing rival of De La Hoya, is now aligning with De La Hoya in opposing White’s effort to reshape boxing.

The larger debate centers on matchmaking. The UFC model regularly puts leading fighters against one another in their primes without prioritizing undefeated records. In boxing, star fighters are often protected with easier matchups before receiving a major payday later in their careers. Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao were cited as an example of a major fight happening later rather than during both fighters’ primes.

White’s influence could change how boxing matches are assembled and how events are produced from top to bottom.