Oscar De La Hoya is publicly questioning the logic behind a proposed fight between Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn. The Golden Boy Promotions chairman insists the matchup lacks fan demand and that a rematch between Garcia and Devin Haney remains the more significant event.
De La Hoya made his position clear on social media. “Nobody’s asking for this fight. The fans are definitely not wanting this fight,” he stated, directly challenging reports that the Benn fight is moving forward for September. He believes the unresolved business with Haney is the clear priority for both fans and the sport. “And if it were up to me, I would have picked Devin Haney for the rematch. That’s a much bigger fight.”
The promotional situation appears complicated. De La Hoya revealed that despite Garcia being under contract with Golden Boy, he has not been included in discussions for the Benn fight. “I have yet to be approached about making this fight,” he said. He then clarified the existing arrangement with Saudi Arabian backers, which seems to be driving the selection of Benn. “We signed a two-fight deal for Ryan with the Saudis last year. The first fight was with Barrios, and apparently the Saudis have chosen Conor Benn to be Ryan’s next opponent.”
This creates a potential standoff. De La Hoya is asserting Golden Boy’s contractual rights while Saudi partners reportedly pursue their own agenda. The push for a Haney rematch is rooted in their April 2024 encounter, where Garcia won a majority decision after scoring three knockdowns. That victory was overturned to a no contest following Garcia’s positive test for a banned substance, leaving their rivalry without a definitive conclusion. In contrast, Benn’s biggest recent win came against an aging Chris Eubank Jr., a result that carries less weight in the American market. The decision now rests on whether contractual obligations or fan demand will determine Garcia’s next major opponent.
