De La Hoya Blasts Soft Generation After Davis Ducks Haney

Oscar De La Hoya says today's fighters are softer than his generation, pointing to poor influences and a money-first mentality that has replaced old-school work ethic.

The Hall of Famer made the comments Saturday on DAZN and TNT's broadcast desk alongside Terence Crawford, Timothy Bradley and Shawn Porter, one day after Keyshawn Davis declined a career-high purse to challenge WBO welterweight champion Devin Haney. The proposed bout would have matched two highly regarded 27-year-olds in their prime.

De La Hoya on Modern Fighters and Money Grabs

When Bradley asked whether the current generation is softer, De La Hoya delivered a blunt answer. "One thousand percent — absolutely," he said, per The Ring. He blamed handlers who inflate young fighters' egos before they prove themselves in the ring. "When you keep telling a young fighter, a young kid, this generation, 'Oh, you're great,' they're gonna believe it, and they're gonna work less," De La Hoya said. "They're not gonna take it as seriously."

Crawford pressed De La Hoya on whether fighters have simply become more business-savvy. De La Hoya agreed to some extent but argued the pursuit of paydays has replaced gym discipline. He said he tells his own stable of fighters, which includes Ryan Garcia and Vergil Ortiz Jr., to focus on training and let their teams handle purses. "These fighters are putting the prize first, and the hard work second," De La Hoya said.

The discussion came hours before William Zepeda won a unanimous decision against Lamont Roach Jr. for the vacant WBC lightweight title on the same card. Haney, who holds the WBO strap at 147 pounds, remains without a dance partner after Davis walked away from negotiations.

Source: ringmagazine.com