Boxing News 2015: Floyd Mayweather Sr. fires back, defends son against Oscar De La Hoya
Oscar De La Hoya bashed Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a strongly worded open letter calling out the American for his boring style and then stating that “boxing is better” post-retirement of the former pound-for-pound king. As expected, Mayweather Jr.’s father and namesake, Floyd Mayweather Sr. wouldn’t let it pass and fired back at the De La Hoya.
“Well, I think that De La Hoya is making a lot of smart remarks, but I don’t know what the deal is, but he [isn’t] right because Floyd [isn’t] saying anything about him,” the elder Mayweather said to Jenna J of ontheropesboxing.com when asked about De La Hoya’s recent remarks against his son. “When people get mad and envious and jealous, get mad out of their wits, Floyd [isn’t] doing none of that stuff.”
There is of course a rich history between De La Hoya and the Mayweathers in the last decade; Mayweather Sr. served as De La Hoya’s trainer from 2001 to 2006 and Mayweather Jr. was one of the biggest rivals for De La Hoya when both were still active in their boxing career.
In their lone match-up on the top of the squared ring, Mayweather Jr. defeated De La Hoya via a close split decision, 116-112, 115-113 and 113-115 in a bout held in 2007. Curiously, there were talks before the Mayweather-De La Hoya match-up about Mayweather Sr. being tapped as De La Hoya’s trainer for the fight against his son although it never materialised.
“Let me tell you something, it’s only because Floyd whooped his ass! Floyd whooped everybody easily. [Manny] Pacquiao bust De La Hoya up and stopped him and little Floyd beat Pacquiao up like he was nobody, it is what it is. He fought De La Hoya one time and he fought Floyd at another time,” Mayweather Sr. added in the interview.
Mayweather Sr. admitted that there is “no problem” between him and De La Hoya, who is the head of Golden Boy Promotions, and that they are “cool” but said that he is concerned with how De La Hoya has spoken against his son.
Mayweather Jr. has retired from the sport after a fight in September against Andre Berto but it appears the Mayweathers rivalry versus De La Hoya will continue even after their respective careers has ended.
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