“Well, it looks like Saudi money is running out,” De La Hoya said in his “Clapback Thursday” segment, referring to multiple reports that Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund is revaluing high-value businesses. He cited golf as a clear example.
“The unit is struggling to find energy and there is little return on investment,” he said, adding that the fund is now “regrouping and reducing capital-intensive investments.”
Oscar argues that the era of blank check spending in international sports is ending in favor of more sustainable domestic projects.
That point led directly to boxing, where De La Hoya argued that spending levels have outpaced any clear return. He pointed to large sums and title deals as evidence of a system built on capital rather than revenue
“They paid a lot of money. How did they pay $100 million to buy Canelo alone? It's a loss,” said De La Hoya, referring to Canelo Álvarez. He also mentioned the latest purses paid to other fighters and the total cost of doing the big events.
De La Hoya's criticism goes further than individual payments. He questioned the sustainability of the entire model, saying that traditional methods of income are not compatible with the level of spending. “Where do they get that investment back? In ticket sales and pay per view,” he said. “Pay-per-views are a small part of the income. No profit, no product.”
From there, he focused on planning and management, shooting straight into Zuffa Boxing. “Also, the Saudis fully support Zuffa 100%,” said De La Hoya, citing the business as dependent on the same funds that he believes are being reviewed. He paired that with a warning directed at fighters entering long-term contracts. “Fighters, be careful and read the text, you may have to get out of your ZUFA contracts in a few months,” he said, suggesting that any financial tightening could leave the fighters tied to agreements that are no longer financially supported by the same.
The final part of his argument moved from spending to regulation, when De La Hoya confirmed that he plans to travel to Washington, DC, to oppose proposed changes to the Muhammad Ali Act. He described the issue as a direct threat to the protection of the military that has been in place for more than two decades. “It has been there for 26 years and it has protected the combatants,” said De La Hoya. “TKO needs to change so they can renegotiate and pay you less, like they do in the UFC.”
By linking those points together, De La Hoya's message focuses on two interconnected pressures facing the sport. He argues that if foreign funding is cut while regulatory protections are weakened, fighters may find themselves exposed to both sides of the business, tied to contracts in a market where financial support is no longer guaranteed, and legal protections are reduced.
