Zuffa LLC and Golden Boy Promotions

Zuffa Boxing head honcho Dana White insists he had nothing to do with Oscar De La Hoya’s absence this past Saturday.

Ryan Garcia, who competes under De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, steamrolled Conor Benn in the main event of a Ring Magazine card promoted by Zuffa Boxing. With White at the forefront of the fight’s buildup, many wondered if De La Hoya would be allowed in the building. Longtime boxing reporter Dan Rafael noted on X that he was told De La Hoya was denied credentials for the show.

In response to the report, White told media members that he never barred De La Hoya from attending Garcia’s second-round TKO finish over Benn (via MMAFighting).

“I heard there’s some rumblings,” White said. “Let me explain something to you: I do not like De La Hoya and De La Hoya does not like me. I would never disrespect him and say, ‘Oh, he shows up here and we treat him like shit.’ I would call him on the phone and say, ‘Hey, don’t f*cking show up to this event because we’re not going to treat you well.’ “That was not the case. Why he didn’t show up, I don’t know.”

White and De La Hoya have exchanged heated words throughout the years, and the intensity has revved up even more since the UFC boss entered the world of boxing promotion. Many suspect that De La Hoya is quite happy that his fighter beat a Zuffa Boxing acquisition in such definitive fashion. Garcia is now moving on to a potential title unification bout with Teofimo Lopez.

Do you believe Dana White’s confusion over Oscar De La Hoya’s absence, or do you think he truly barred his rival from entering the building on Saturday? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM