The super-lightweight championship bout between Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia has been the most controversial boxing event of the year. From verbal spats to weigh-in drama, the lead-up was fraught with tension. Garcia, in particular, stirred the pot with complaints about ticket prices and jabs at Haney’s record, raising concerns about his mental state. Despite weighing in 3lbs over the 140lb limit, Garcia managed to put Haney down three times, securing a surprising points victory.

However, the aftermath of the fight has been even more turbulent. Garcia tested positive for a banned substance both before and after the contest, resulting in a 12-month ban by The New York State Athletic Commission, despite his protests of innocence. Amidst this, Haney accused Golden Boy CEO Oscar De La Hoya of withholding pay-per-view (PPV) money.

Speaking to Fight Hub TV, De La Hoya strongly refuted these claims, stating bluntly that the fight simply didn’t meet sales expectations.

“There really is no latest. The fight didn’t sell the way they expected, that’s it,” De La Hoya explained. “When a Canelo and now a Shakur is attacking my integrity, is attacking the company, then maybe there is something I must do about it, but the bottom line is the numbers came in and they just didn’t perform the way Devin Haney thought they would perform.”

De La Hoya emphasized his transparency, stating, “The fight didn’t sell. I told him you can check my books, send 1000 lawyers to my office, I don’t hide anything. The facts are the facts. When they talk against me it’s rubbish, it’s crazy, it’s uncalled for.”

The Haney-Garcia bout, once touted as a blockbuster, has left a trail of controversy and questions about integrity in its wake. As the dust settles, the boxing world remains divided, but De La Hoya stands firm on the financial realities of the event.