White Denies Sabotaging De La Hoya at Garcia-Benn Fight, Cites Past McMahon Snub

Key points

• White denied setting De La Hoya up, stating he would have simply told him not to come if he wanted him excluded.
• White referenced a 2018 incident where Vince McMahon denied him tickets for Ronda Rousey’s debut, resulting in him sitting in the bleachers.
• De La Hoya claimed he avoided the event to prevent being embarrassed, citing the treatment of Teofimo Lopez as evidence of Zuffa’s intent.
• White clarified that De La Hoya had tickets for the celebrity VIP section, contradicting reports that he was denied credentials or ringside access.
• The dispute occurred during the co-promotion of the WBC title bout, which Garcia won via second-round TKO.

Background

This conflict follows the September 2026 WBC welterweight title fight between Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn at T-Mobile Arena. The event was a co-promotion between Golden Boy Promotions and Zuffa Boxing, but Zuffa took the lead. De La Hoya’s absence generated immediate controversy, with earlier reports suggesting he was denied credentials. White previously denied blocking De La Hoya, stating he did not know why the promoter stayed away. Garcia expressed disappointment that De La Hoya did not attend his ring walk, though Golden Boy’s Jane Murcia claimed Garcia’s team withdrew the invitation on fight day.

How outlets are covering it

MMA Fighting and Cageside Press highlight White’s defense, emphasizing his personal experience with Vince McMahon to prove he would not sabotage De La Hoya. BJPenn.com and Boxing Insider focus on De La Hoya’s justification, quoting his assertion that attending would have been a setup for embarrassment. Boxing Insider notes the parallel to Eddie Hearn’s recent disputes with TKO Group, suggesting a broader pattern of promoters feeling excluded by Zuffa. While White insists De La Hoya had VIP tickets, De La Hoya and his team argue that the seating arrangement and contract dealings were disrespectful. The outlets agree on the factual dispute regarding ticket access but differ on the interpretation of intent, with White viewing it as a misunderstanding and De La Hoya viewing it as deliberate exclusion.

Why it matters

The dispute highlights the escalating tensions between traditional boxing promoters and the new TKO Group structure. It raises questions about the enforceability of co-promotion agreements and the power dynamics within Zuffa Boxing. The conflict between White and De La Hoya may influence future contract negotiations and the stability of the unified boxing organization model, as promoters question their autonomy and respect within the new hierarchy.

What to watch

De La Hoya has indicated he is not finished with the dispute, suggesting further public or legal actions may follow. The outcome of the Eddie Hearn vs. TKO Group dispute over the Fury vs. Joshua fight may provide a precedent for how Zuffa handles co-promotion grievances. Future co-promotions involving Golden Boy and Zuffa Boxing will likely be scrutinized for similar seating and credential issues.