The Hall of Famer recently announced his intention to put past differences aside and pit his fighters against Arum’s to make the best fights possible, leading to his CEO Richard Schaefer walking out of the company.
Now, after years of animosity and disinterest in working together, De La Hoya is ready to discuss what problems there may be regarding TV networks and sponsorship to put on co-promotions in the future eventually.
“It all depends on what we can work out,” De La Hoya told the Pasadena Star News.
“I’m looking forward to working with any promoter. Obviously, Arum, because he has fighters that we can fight and build these great cards together. And I keep saying this all along, let’s leave ego aside, let’s leave all that aside, and let’s do it for the fight fans, do it for the sport of boxing because if you make big fights and you make competitive fights.
“I’ve always said this all along, everybody wins. Yes, we have a few issues we have to deal with. Obviously, TV and sponsors. Those are major issues. Is it impossible? Nothing’s impossible. But it’s a matter of just sitting down and talking and figuring something out.
“I’m looking forward to, after this week, sitting down with Bob Arum and sitting down with any promoter where we can make fights happen. For the fans,” he added.
ARUM
Arum has already made noises in a previous interview with WBN about drawing up a list of fighters from Golden Boy that could potentially face star fighter Manny Pacquiao in November, which in itself will bring more excitement to the sport. Having the likes of Amir Khan, Danny Garcia, and Keith Thurman in contention, rather than the usual suspects in Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez, will only enhance the interest in Pacquiao’s next pay-per-view event.
The main hurdle that stands before De La Hoya and Arum’s reconciliation will be the network’s coverage of any big clashes as Showtime and HBO claim the rights to boxers on either side of the promotional fence.
If Pacquiao agreed to face Khan, for instance, which station would get the privilege of screening what would be one of the biggest fights of the year? A question that means De La Hoya and Arum have a lot to work out before moving forward with their new plan.
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