Dana White on De La Hoya videos, Haymon, Noche/Canelo duel

Dana White had only one word for the videos he saw on Oscar De La Hoya’s social media accounts: “Wow.”

De La Hoya, founder of Golden Boy Promotions and one of the best boxers of the last 30 years, is in top form in 2024 as his company has hosted major events featuring some of the sport’s most popular stars such as Ryan Garcia, Jaime Munguia and Vergil Ortiz.

The 51-year-old has also been working hard online, with his new shows on X themed “Clapback Thursday,” in which he comments on the big issues in boxing or fires back at one of his rivals.

There are also numerous videos on his Instagram account or that of his partner Holly Sonders that show De La Hoya in daring outfits.

At an MMA event attended by World Boxing News in Las Vegas on Tuesday, UFC boss White said he had “regrettably” seen these videos.

“And a new one came out [Tuesday]”, added White. “Wow.”

De La Hoya wasn’t the only boxing figurehead White talked about, as September 14 – the date when UFC and boxing will face off – is fast approaching.

On the same day, the UFC will move to a $2.3 billion mega-venue called “The Sphere” in the middle of the Las Vegas Strip, and Premier Boxing Champions will host an event at the T-Mobile Arena with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez taking on Edgar Berlanga as the main attraction.

The weekends closest to Cinco de Mayo [May 5] and Mexican Independence Day (September 16) are traditionally important dates in the boxing calendar.

But in 2023 and now again in 2024, the UFC has organized an event around that date to try to leverage Mexico’s passionate interest and contribution to boxing for MMA.

“That was our date last year,” White said, referring to a UFC Fight Night-branded event that featured a main event between flyweight champion Alexa Grasso and pound-for-pound fighter Valentina Shevchenko, an event that appeared to displace the Canelo vs. Jermell Charlo show this weekend and later in the month.

The only reason the UFC didn’t get the Mexican Independence Day fight night at T-Mobile Arena is because PBC booked the venue a year in advance.

This made White angry. Not because he felt PBC founder Al Haymon had disrespected him – the UFC boss seems to respect Haymon and Canelo – but rather because MGM Resorts International had not warned him or politely called him.

“That was our appointment last year, and without asking us or talking to us, they gave it away,” White said.

“That’s why I’m with The Sphere. I couldn’t join The Sphere because I have a contract [to do 3-4 shows per year] with MGM [at T-Mobile Arena]but because they screwed us over, they let us do it.”

From the outside, a battle may be heating up over the rights to host an event at the T-Mobile Arena on Mexican Independence Day weekend.

White, however, sees it differently. “I don’t think it’s a fight with Haymon,” he said.

“Props to Al Haymon. He got there before the end of the weekend. [last year] and took away our date.”

White later added: “Haymon and Canelo are just doing their thing, compliments to them. Good for them [that] You can sneak in and steal the date without calling [to us, from MGM].”

Regardless of whether Canelo or any other prominent boxer who can generate such widespread interest – as Floyd Mayweather did before his retirement – wants to fight on that date in Las Vegas in the future, White said he wants to host a UFC event on Mexican Independence Day every year going forward.

“I will [hold an event on] “I’m going to celebrate Mexican Independence Day here every year for the rest of my career, no matter what happens,” White told WBN and other reporters.

White then said that MGM “guaranteed entry” for the Canelo vs. Berlanga fight.

For example, in this scenario, if the guarantee is $15 million, PBC would receive the $15 million even if ticket sales only brought in $10 million. If gate receipts exceed that amount, PBC would receive the excess.

“Why wouldn’t they go if MGM is putting up all the money,” White said, comparing MGM’s decision to give the date to boxing while giving Haymon and PBC a guarantee to “an extra kick in the balls.”

Sean O’Malley will fight Merab Dvalishvili in the main event of UFC 306 at The Sphere after Grasso returns to face Shevchenko in a thrilling rematch – all on ESPN+.

In addition to Canelo vs. Berlanga, Erislandy Lara and Danny Garcia will compete, and Caleb Plant and Rolando Romero will have separate boxing matches on the Prime Video PPV.

Alan Dawson is a senior editor at World Boxing News, a two-time finalist for Sportswriter of the Year and a five-time winner of the BWAA Award. Follow Alan @AlanDawsonSport.