Will Golden Boy Promotions head Oscar De la Hoya learn from the Eddie Hearn / Anthony Joshua mistake?

Joshua wanted to make a splash in the United States by fighting an undefeated contender at the Mega of Boxing, Madison Square Garden.

Jarrell Big Baby Miller ended up having to Forfeit the fight after his drug tests tested positive. The search for a 200 pound plus man went into full effect as the June 1st date was set and going forward.

The name King Kong Luis Ortiz came to everyone’s mind. That would have been the name to get to make the biggest possible splash. Long story short (lots of untrue rumors about financial offers), Joshua & Hearn didn’t want to over pay Ortiz.

Ortiz was willing to take the fight on short notice but needed a handsome guarantee because of a verbal financial agreement he already had to fight Deontay Wilder later on in 2019.

Hearn & Joshua got someone on the cheap, and Hearn kept telling me and others  that Andy Ruiz Jr. Scares him.

Question is, did the lack of spending money for King Kong Ortiz cost Joshua his belts?

Now we look at Oscar & Canelo Alvarez lack of spending issues. Alvarez reaches out to Spence Jr. fighting in the 147 division, but Spence moved on sighting money – he is now fighting Porter. Spence was exciting to move up and fight Canelo, but boxing is a business and the money didn’t make sense.

Alvarez reaches out to Kovalev in the 175 division, same result, money made Kovalev move on and fight Yarde. Kovalev would have loved to face Canelo next, No money/ No Honey.

Now Alvarez gets stripped of his IBF belt as Oscar lowballs Sergiy Derevyanchenko to fight Canelo.

The proof is in the pudding:

Alvarez / Derevyanchenko is A much bigger fight financially then GGG/ Derevyanchenko, yet Triple G’s promotion is offering Sergiy Derevyanchenko the same Money Golden Boy did.

The latest dance partner Golden Boy wants is Demetris Andrade. Andrade is happy making money fighting B level fighters in his hometown of Providence, RI. Andrade has a world title and is undefeated, why would Andrade, his team and promotion give all that up if Golden Boy is going to be tight with the wallet.

Example:  If a top college football school wanted a head coach who was content at his job and location and life, they would have to over pay.  They would have to give him such an offer that he basically couldn’t say no. Oscar / Alvarez are the power house of boxing, but they are simply not willing to spend.

Golden Boy has to be careful not to take all of Canelo Alvarez’s titles away. Sometimes being cheap is good in the short term, but in the long term the damage could be done.

Photo’s Courtesy of Ed Mulholland/ Matchroom Boxing & Tom Hogan/Hogan Photos & Golden Boy Promotions.