Credential Dispute Erupts After White Denies Blocking De La Hoya from Garcia-Benn Fight

Key points

• Dana White stated at the post-fight press conference that he did not block De La Hoya, claiming the Golden Boy boss simply chose not to attend.
• Golden Boy Promotions disputed this, asserting via Dan Rafael that De La Hoya and other staff members were denied credentials for the event at T-Mobile Arena.
• Ryan Garcia retained the WBC welterweight title by stopping Conor Benn in the second round, though he expressed surprise at his promoter’s absence.
• Garcia originally invited De La Hoya for the ring walk but switched to Marco Antonio Barrera and Rey Mysterio on Saturday morning.
• The event featured a co-promotion between Zuffa Boxing and Golden Boy, with White noting that Don King removed the WBC title from the Jai Opetaia vs. Noel Mikaelian bout.

Background

The rivalry between Dana White and Oscar De La Hoya has been a major storyline in boxing for over a year, involving disputes over fighter safeguards and Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the sport. This event marked Garcia’s first title defense since moving to Zuffa Boxing, a promotion owned 60% by Turki Alalshikh. Previous archive coverage highlights the intense media attention surrounding the 'Where's Oscar?' narrative leading up to the fight.

How outlets are covering it

MMA Fighting and Boxing News 24 focused on White’s denial, emphasizing his statement that he would have called De La Hoya if he intended to exclude him. Boxing News 24/7 and BoxingScene highlighted Golden Boy’s counter-claim that credentials were rejected, noting that Garcia’s surprise at the absence contradicted White’s narrative. BoxingScene also pointed out the missed promotional opportunity, contrasting the current silence with a previous 2024 news conference where De La Hoya and Canelo Alvarez engaged in a highly publicized verbal exchange.

Why it matters

The credential dispute highlights the operational tensions between Zuffa Boxing and Golden Boy Promotions as they navigate a co-promotion. It raises questions about access control at major events and the future of Ryan Garcia’s contract, which reportedly has one fight remaining with Golden Boy. The incident also underscores the complex power dynamics in modern boxing, where promoter rivalries can overshadow the sporting contest itself.

What to watch

Golden Boy Promotions is expected to seek clarification on the credential approval process. The boxing world will watch for any formal response from Zuffa Boxing regarding the access dispute. Additionally, attention will turn to Ryan Garcia’s next bout, with potential matchups against Teofimo Lopez or Devin Haney being discussed in the media.