Oscar De La Hoya changes trainer avoiding family feud

Suddenly eager to avoid the feuding Mayweather family, Oscar De La Hoya chose Freddie Roach as his trainer for a May 5 superwelterweight title fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Photo: Oscar De La Hoya changes trainer avoiding family feud

Oscar De La Hoya changes trainer avoiding family feud

Floyd Mayweather Sr., who has trained De La Hoya since late 2000, turned down an offer to be in the boxer's corner against his estranged son.

De La Hoya confirmed on Tuesday that he offered Mayweather Sr. a $500 000 (about R3,6-million) guarantee and $500 000 if he wins. Mayweather Sr. called it insulting, and demanded $2-million (about R14-million).

Tickets for the fight at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas sold out in three hours last weekend. De La Hoya is expected to make a guarantee in excess of $20-million (about R140-million) and will share in the pay-per-view profits.

But he said Mayweather Sr.'s price "had no impact whatsoever" on his decision to dump him, ol.co.za says.

De La Hoya (38-4, 30 knockouts) is scheduled to fight WBC welterweight champion Mayweather Jr. (37-0, 24 KOs) May 5 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The fighters are expected to earn more than a combined $35 million, and the pay-per-view numbers are expected to make it the most lucrative non-heavyweight fight in history.

Terms of the De La Hoya-Roach contract were not revealed, latimes.com reports.

De La Hoya said he didn't feel comfortable getting in the middle of the feuding father and son, who rarely speak. Mayweather Jr. uses his uncle, Roger Mayweather, as his trainer, but Mayweather Sr. has said he would work for his son if he asked.

"If he goes and trains his son, I'd actually be happy for his son," De La Hoya said. "At least I did some good for the family. You hate to see a father and son apart for so many years."

De La Hoya said he has a call into Mayweather Sr. to explain his decision.

"I didn't feel comfortable training against his son," he said. "Ultimately, what matters here is me winning this fight. Freddie Roach was the guy I felt who was going to take me to that victory."

Roach, 46, is a former boxer who once trained Mike Tyson and whose star pupil is Manny Pacquiao, the WBC international super featherweight champion who gave Roach his blessing, the AP reports.

Source: agencies

Prepared by Alexander Timoshik
Pravda.ru