OSCAR DE LA HOYA SAYS BOXING IN WORST STATE EVER

Oscar De La Hoya said boxing is "in the worst place it's ever been," in comments to Ariel Helwani. The promoter, who has worked in boxing for more than 20 years, said too many champions wait for the biggest possible payday instead of fighting regularly. He said fighters must keep proving themselves rather than staying idle in hope of a payday that may never arrive. His comments followed Turki Alalshikh's arrangement of a fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.

Helwani said the situation had improved since Saudi-backed fights began taking place, with fighters once tied to rival broadcasters having avoided facing each other. De La Hoya agreed only partly, saying "we've seen a sprinkle of a handful of fights" because major match-ups remain costly to stage. He cited champions who gave up or lost titles rather than face mandatory challengers, including Oleksandr Usyk, who twice relinquished heavyweight belts, and Canelo Alvarez, who lost his IBF title over a mandatory defence against William Scull before regaining it a year later. Hamzah Sheeraz, Keyshawn Davis and Denzel Bentley faced comparable situations, he said.

De La Hoya separately praised his own fighter, Floyd Schofield, known as "Kid Austin," comparing his will to win to that of Sugar Ray Leonard. Leonard won world titles in five weight divisions and holds wins over fellow former champions Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran and Marvin Hagler, leading some to rank him the best of boxing's "Four Kings." Schofield, unbeaten in 19 fights, faces Lucas Bahdi for the vacant WBA lightweight world title on Saturday in Chicago. De La Hoya said a win could lead Schofield toward unification fights against William Zepeda and Abdullah Mason.