MMA journalist Ariel Helwani suggests Oscar De La Hoya and Ryan Garcia resolve their dispute behind closed doors instead of airing their dirty laundry on social media.
Garcia suffered the first defeat of his career, going down in the seventh round after absorbing a vicious body blow during his entertaining scrap with the still-undefeated Gervonta Davis in April. Almost immediately following the loss, Garcia was critical of his team, claiming that one member was operating as a double agent by leaking information to Davis’ camp. Garcia’s team did not stand by his side during the post-fight press event prompting Garcia to suggest that his opponents’ team showed more concern for him than his own.
“I lost, I’ve seen everybody leave me, and then I just gotta see who’s really there for me,” Garcia told fitness influencer, Bradley Martyn. “After the fight, nobody was there for me, like, my team, but just didn’t come to the press conference and go do nothing, you know what I mean? I was left with somebody betrayed me in camp, they weren’t trying to look out for me after the fight. It was like, I was left with that. It was the worst, and ‘Tank’s team really care about me more than my own team.”
Since then, Garcia has parted ways with coach Joe Goossen and has remained openly critical of his former team, something that Oscar De La Hoya has clearly heard enough of. The sweet science icon and founder of Golden Boy Promotions addressed Garcia’s gripes in a series of posts on Twitter, placing the blame squarely on the shoulders of the fighter and not the team behind him.
“Wtf @RyanGarcia it’s been almost two months and youre still crying about the post presser? The blame for your loss is on YOU and your “advisor” Lupe,” De La Hoya tweeted. “He is the only one who pushed you to accept that INSANE rehydration clause and THAT is the reason you lost. Man up. Own that.”
Wtf @RyanGarcia it’s been almost two months and youre still crying about the post presser? The blame for your loss is on YOU and your “advisor”Lupe. He is the only one who pushed you to accept that INSANE rehydration clause and THAT is the reason you lost. Man up. Own that.
— Oscar De La Hoya (@OscarDeLaHoya) June 2, 2023
De La Hoya was far from done as he continued to rip into Garcia in a follow-up post on social media.
“Also, you keep saying “tanks team offered more support for you” blah blah blah. Bro they SET YOU UP TO LOSE with that rehydration clause and most importantly…AL HAYMON DIDNT EVEN SHOW UP THE ENTIRE WEEK. Actually, he NEVER shows up. How’s that for “support”???”
Also, you keep saying “tanks team offered more support for you” blah blah blah. Bro they SET YOU UP TO LOSE with that rehydration clause and most importantly…AL HAYMON DIDNT EVEN SHOW UP THE ENTIRE WEEK. Actually, he NEVER shows up. How’s that for “support”???
— Oscar De La Hoya (@OscarDeLaHoya) June 2, 2023
Ariel Helwani Attempts to Be the Voice of Reason Between Ryan Garcia and Oscar Del La Hoya
Renowned mixed martial arts journalist Ariel Helwani interjected himself into the conversation shortly after De La Hoya’s initial tweet, suggesting that the two parties handle their dispute behind closed doors rather than on a public forum. This is a sound piece of advice from The MMA Hour host considering De La Hoya is picking a fight with his promotion’s biggest star in front of the world.
“Horrible look to be publicly fighting with your biggest star,” Helwani tweeted in response. “Regardless of who’s wrong or right, keep this in house.”
Horrible look to be publicly fighting with your biggest star.
Regardless of who’s wrong or right, keep this in house. https://t.co/OaXdCiVViq
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 2, 2023
Garcia will begin looking for a new coach as he eyes moving up to the super lightweight division after enduring an especially brutal weight cut for his clash with ‘Tank’ Davis.
