Boxing can always use more truth and less spin.
Oscar De La Hoya’s new social-media feature, “Clap-back Thursdays” won over some immediate support this week for cutting to the core of some of the high-profile matters the former world-champion fighter and powerful promoter is involved in.
“When Oscar tweets or posts, I’m tuned in,” former welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi said on Friday’s episode of Pro Box TV’s “Deep Waters.” “I know sometimes it’s a train wreck, but I’m all for ‘Clap-back Thursdays’ every single day.”
De La Hoya made the point on his debut episode that the WBC ordering his consensus No. 1 lightweight contender William Zepeda to fight unbeaten champion Shakur Stevenson means nothing to him.
The promoter said since the WBC has allowed undisputed super-middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez to let top-ranked mandatory contender David Benavidez to languish for several months without fighting him, there’s no reason to believe a WBC order has any teeth.
“It doesn’t mean anything at all,” Malignaggi said.
WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman actually did order the sides to strike a deal by next month. If they don’t the bout will go to purse bid for other promoters to stage the bout that would match the elusive Stevenson versus the relentless Zepeda, coming off a third-round knockout victory.
“That’s how it’s supposed to happen,” Malignaggi said. “Let’s see if the WBC will actually do that.”
If either fighter doesn’t participate in the bout, Stevenson could be stripped of his belt or Zepeda would be bypassed – which he truly may not mind because he is the No. 1 contender in the WBO, WBA and IBF, too.
Another segment of De La Hoya’s show was to say he would not be signing free-agent Stevenson to a multi-fight deal after meeting with him last week.
“It seems they couldn’t make an agreement with (Stevenson),” former 140-pound champion Chris Algieri said on “Deep Waters. “It would be hard to make (lightweight) fights other than (Zepeda). Shakur has the title. So, I’m calling B.S. on that Oscar take. It seems like Shakur has other plans.”
Overall, Algieri said he enjoyed hearing De La Hoya announce he has not been approached by Saudi Arabia’s power broker Turki Alalshikh for a new league that has been rumored.
“I love Oscar – this new version who still acts like a fighter. He’s got a twinge to him and made a lot of sense with his veiled ideas,” Algieri said. “There’s a lot of truth to what he’s saying, and he’s been around the business for 30 years.”
Former Golden Boy Promotions fighter Shawn Porter said he just wants De La Hoya to maintain the full truth, and not just his version of the truth as events develop.
“Don’t just say it when it’s not beneficial to yourself,” Porter said. “There’s a lot of truths that need to be spoken in this sport. Keep telling these truths.”
Some of those have to do with De La Hoya’s troubled fighter, Ryan Garcia.
In the interim, De La Hoya seems committed to challenging the powers-that-be in the sport he’s dedicated his life to.
“He’s right in that sanctioning bodies don’t control the belts,” Porter said. “It seems Zepeda has more opportunities than just Shakur. (The WBC) made him mandatory. If he doesn’t get there, the money will get (him) right.”
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