LAS VEGAS — Super middleweight world title contender Edgar Berlanga had choice words for Golden Boy Promotions founder Oscar de la Hoya on Wednesday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
De la Hoya seemingly irked Berlanga when he talked online about the Canelo event and said that, rather than support the boxing show in his new hometown, he’ll instead attend the big-ticket UFC event at the nearby Sphere.
UFC boss Dana White even confirmed to World Boxing News and other media this week that the former six-weight world boxing champion was down to attend, albeit as part of combat sports financier Turki Alalshikh’s ticket allotment, rather than White’s.
This, according to Berlanga, is an act of sabotage.
“F*** Oscar de la Hoya,” Berlanga told World Boxing News and other media Wednesday at the MGM Grand.
“That mother-f***** he keep talking, keep talking, and talking — we’re going to smack him when we see him. He gotta stop. He’s trying to f*** up the event.”
Talking backstage, Berlanga’s father, Edgar Sr added that de la Hoya is “a fake Mexican.”
De la Hoya, who is active on the internet, is yet to respond.
However, speaking during a video he posted on Instagram last week, the 51-year-old said: “We’re a week away from the boxing match that nobody asked for and the UFC event that everyone will be watching.
“Canelo is fighting Berlanga — another snoozefest,” said de la Hoya.
“They’re trying to sell a pay-per-view for $90 and $500 minimum to watch in person. It’s just robbery at this point to pay for another lame Canelo fight that always goes the distance against a subpar opponent.”
Berlanga replied on social media when saying, “How can a scumbag like Oscar hate on me and the event. You are somebody a lot of fighters looked up to. You are a f***ing w***er!”
The UFC 306 event, otherwise called UFC Noche, airs around the same time Saturday on ESPN pay-per-view as the Canelo-Berlanga show, which can be seen on Prime Video and DAZN, also as a PPV.
Alan Dawson is World Boxing News Lead Writer, a 2 x Sports Journalist of the Year finalist, and 5 x BWAA awards winner. Follow Alan @AlanDawsonSport.
