De La Hoya's Vision for a Golden Boy-PBC Collaboration: A Gateway to Big Business
Oscar De La Hoya is optimistic about a major title fight that could pave the way for regular business between Golden Boy Promotions and Premier Boxing Champions (PBC). The highly anticipated Mario Barrios-Ryan Garcia clash is set to headline a PBC event on Prime Video pay-per-view, with distribution also handled by DAZN, on February 21 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In a recent development, De La Hoya shared on social media, "I’ve been busy finalizing the Ryan Garcia-Mario Barrios fight. Details will be announced Monday."
The Nevada State Athletic Commission confirms that TGB Promotions, the primary promoter for PBC, and Golden Boy have secured the T-Mobile Arena on February 21. The event is expected to feature the Gary Anutanne Russell-Andy Hiraoka WBA 140lbs title fight, as well as the long-awaited IBF heavyweight title eliminator between Frank Sanchez and Richard Torrez Jnr. PBC is also anticipated to add another title fight to the lineup.
Mario Barrios, with a record of 29-2-2 (18 KOs), will defend his WBC 147lbs title for the third time. He secured the interim belt in a dominant 12-round unanimous decision over Yordenis Ugas in September 2023. This was followed by a May 2024 victory over Fabian Maidana, after the divisional exit of undisputed champ Terence Crawford.
However, Barrios has yet to secure a win since his elevated title status. He has fought to back-to-back draws with Abel Ramos in November 2024, and Manny Pacquiao in July 19, both on PBC events. Ryan Garcia, on the other hand, despite not winning a fight in over two years, is granted the opportunity to challenge for a major title.
Garcia, with a record of 24-2 (20 KOs), faced a unanimous decision defeat to Rolando Romero in May 2024. This was his only fight in 2024, and it came after a No-Contest with Devin Haney in April, where he tested positive for the banned substance Ostarine and received a one-year suspension. Garcia's last official win was in December 2023, over Oscar Duarte.
The event with Gervonta "Tank" Davis, which took place in front of a sold-out crowd at T-Mobile Arena, generated an estimated $22.8 million in ticket sales and over $100,000,000 from PPV units. This joint venture between Showtime and DAZN, as well as Golden Boy's involvement in Saul "Canelo" Alvarez's win over Jaime Munguia, showcases the potential for successful collaborations.
De La Hoya's involvement in the promotion, despite his acrimonious relationship with Garcia, highlights his desire for a positive collaboration with PBC founder Al Haymon. This partnership could benefit Golden Boy, which has had a rocky relationship with DAZN, and aims to keep boxing relevant in the U.S. with Top Rank's struggles to secure a platform deal.
De La Hoya expressed his excitement, stating, "I’m really excited to be working with PBC and Al Haymon. We have a lot of great matchups to be made as the U.S.’ top promoters. I’m looking to keep the fights here in the U.S."
The upcoming fight between Barrios and Garcia, and the potential for further collaborations, marks a significant step in De La Hoya's vision for a thriving boxing industry in the U.S.
