In a dramatic turn of events that has shaken up the boxing world, Oscar De La Hoya has publicly clapped back at Canelo Alvarez for not accepting an offer to fight Terence Crawford. The war of words between the two boxing legends has intensified, drawing the attention of fans and pundits alike. Oscar, the former champion and current promoter, is known for his sharp tongue and fiery opinions, and he didn’t hold back when addressing Canelo’s decision to decline a potential matchup with Crawford. Here’s a breakdown of the situation and what this latest development could mean for the future of both fighters and the sport itself.

It all started when Terence Crawford, the undefeated welterweight champion and one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world, publicly called out Canelo Alvarez for a fight. Crawford, who has long been vocal about his desire to take on the biggest challenges in boxing, made it clear that he was willing to step up and face Canelo — a fighter widely regarded as one of the best in the sport today. Crawford even hinted that he would be willing to move up in weight to face Canelo, who holds multiple world titles in the super middleweight division.

For many boxing fans, this was the kind of challenge that could define Crawford’s career. A fight between two fighters of this caliber would undoubtedly be a mega-event that would captivate the boxing world. However, Canelo quickly dismissed the idea, stating that he had no interest in fighting Crawford, dismissing him as a “smaller fighter” and making it clear that he wasn’t interested in the matchup.

Oscar De La Hoya, who was Canelo’s former promoter before they parted ways in 2020, was not pleased with Canelo’s response to Crawford’s challenge. Known for his outspoken nature and his knack for stirring the pot, Oscar took to social media to voice his frustrations with Canelo’s rejection of the fight offer.

In a series of pointed tweets and comments, Oscar didn’t mince words. He accused Canelo of avoiding the toughest challenges and not embracing the kind of legacy-defining fights that would elevate him in the eyes of boxing purists. “Canelo knows deep down that Terence Crawford is one of the best fighters of his generation,” Oscar said, “and the fact that he refuses to fight him speaks volumes about his confidence in himself.”

Oscar also reminded fans that when he was promoting Canelo, he made sure that Canelo was put in big, challenging fights — fights that would help build his legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats. But now, Oscar claimed, Canelo was more interested in protecting his record and preserving his status as the face of boxing rather than taking on risky bouts like the one with Crawford.

The tension between Oscar and Canelo has been building for some time, especially since their split a few years ago. But this recent public feud over the Crawford offer has reignited old rivalries, with Oscar seeming determined to criticize Canelo whenever the opportunity arises.

While Oscar’s comments may have stoked the fire, there’s another side to this situation that should be considered: Canelo’s decision to decline the Crawford fight is not entirely surprising. From a business perspective, Canelo’s refusal makes sense. He has built his career around fighting the biggest names in boxing and has amassed an impressive list of victories, but taking on a dangerous opponent like Crawford could risk his carefully cultivated legacy.

Canelo, now 33 years old, is at the top of his game and has proven himself in multiple weight classes, making him the undisputed champion at super middleweight. A fight with Crawford, who has dominated the welterweight division, would require Canelo to move up or down in weight, which introduces an additional layer of complexity and risk. With Canelo’s age and his already extensive boxing resume, taking on a fighter like Crawford could be seen as a dangerous gamble.

Moreover, Canelo is looking toward other potential marquee matchups in the future, such as rematches with Dmitry Bivol or potential showdowns with other champions at super middleweight and light heavyweight. For Canelo, the Crawford fight may not be worth the risk, especially if it doesn’t align with his plans for continued dominance in the sport.

While some may view Oscar’s comments as personal animosity due to his split with Canelo, there is an underlying frustration that reflects a larger issue within the boxing community. Oscar’s criticism points to the ongoing trend of top fighters avoiding high-risk, high-reward matchups in favor of more commercially viable fights. The refusal of Canelo to take on Crawford, despite the latter’s call for a superfight, highlights the growing divide between legacy-building matches and financial considerations in modern boxing.

Oscar, a former champion himself, has always placed a heavy emphasis on fighting the best, even at the risk of personal defeat. His own career was defined by the big, career-making matchups against fighters like Floyd Mayweather Jr., Bernard Hopkins, and Felix Trinidad. It’s clear that Oscar sees the current crop of top fighters, including Canelo, as prioritizing their records over true legacy-building bouts, and he is not shy about calling them out for it.

So, where does this leave both Canelo and Crawford? For Canelo, the pressure to take on the best opponents in the sport will continue to build. As the face of boxing, he can’t afford to be seen as avoiding challenges, and the Crawford call-out will not go away easily. Meanwhile, Crawford, who continues to dominate his own division, has the potential to further cement his legacy by facing off with other top fighters — whether it’s Canelo or someone else.

As for Oscar, his criticism may resonate with fans who share his frustrations about the direction boxing is heading. While his motivations may be partly personal, the message he’s sending about fighters taking risks for greatness is one that holds value in the eyes of the boxing world.

Oscar De La Hoya’s recent remarks about Canelo Alvarez not accepting Terence Crawford’s challenge have added fuel to an already burning fire in the boxing community. With both fighters standing at the pinnacle of their careers, the pressure for them to step up and face the toughest opponents is only growing. Whether Canelo will eventually accept the Crawford challenge, or whether this feud will continue to fuel the fire of boxing drama, only time will tell. What’s clear, however, is that this ongoing clash of boxing icons is far from over.