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 clash between Mario Barrios and Ryan Garcia 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 event is a joint effort between TGB Promotions, the primary promoter for PBC, and Golden Boy, securing the T-Mobile Arena on February 21, as per the Nevada State Athletic Commission. The card is expected to feature the Gary Anutanne Russell-Andy Hiraoka WBA 140lbs title fight, the IBF heavyweight title eliminator between Frank Sanchez and Richard Torrez Jnr, and another title bout.
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 unanimous decision over Yordenis Ugas in September 2023, and was upgraded after a win over Fabian Maidana in May 2024. However, Barrios has yet to secure a win since, with back-to-back draws against Abel Ramos.
Ryan Garcia, despite not winning a fight in over two years, is granted a major title challenge opportunity. Garcia's last fight was a unanimous decision loss to Rolando Romero in May 2024. His previous fight was a no-contest with Devin Haney in April 2024, due to a positive test for the banned substance Ostarine, resulting in a one-year suspension.
The Garcia-Davis fight, held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, generated an estimated $22.8 million in ticket sales and over $100,000,000 from PPV units. This event marked a successful collaboration between Showtime and DAZN, with Golden Boy also involved in Saul "Canelo" Alvarez's win over Jaime Munguia, which was promoted by PBC.
De La Hoya's involvement in the promotion of Alvarez, a former client, highlights his interest in a positive collaboration with PBC, despite his current acrimonious relationship with Garcia. The potential reunion with PBC founder Al Haymon could benefit Golden Boy, which has had a challenging relationship with DAZN.
As the top promoters in the U.S., Golden Boy and PBC aim to keep boxing relevant. De La Hoya expressed his excitement about working with PBC and Haymon, emphasizing the potential for great matchups and keeping fights in the U.S. This collaboration could be a significant step for the boxing industry.
