\tLAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 21: Boxing promoter Oscar De La Hoya speaks during a press conference ahead of the fight between Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez and David Benavidez at Park MGM on February 21, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Cris Esqueda\/Golden Boy\/Getty Images) | Getty Images\t<\/p>\n
Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya<\/strong> spent some time talking with reporters about Ryan Garcia<\/strong>\u2019s win over Mario Barrios <\/strong>to claim the WBC welterweight title and what that means for his future. Here\u2019s some excerpts of what De La Hoya had to say down below.<\/p>\n \u201cI saw a composed Ryan. I saw a focused Ryan. I saw a Ryan that knew he had to win, so therefore we saw a complete Ryan. We say a Ryan that was well trained, that was determined to win that world title, and at times when he throws those combinations and he lands, he gets a little reckless so it\u2019s like \u2018hey, get your composure, got back to your jab, have fun.\u2019 That\u2019s exactly what he was doing. The speed was too much for (Barrios).\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was not surprised that he got up. Barrios is a tough son of a gun. I knew if he went down\u2026this is going to be a long fight. Once you get hit \u2014 when you\u2019re a fighter, you get hit and go down \u2014 you warm up. Your body warms up, your chin becomes granite and that\u2019s exactly what happened to Barrios, that\u2019s why the fight lasted 12 rounds. He\u2019s a tough guy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI love the fight. I mean, look, there\u2019s so many options that are for Ryan now. Everybody wants to fight him, everybody wants to dethrone the pretty boy. And now that he has a world title everybody is after him, so I think it\u2019s just a matter of regrouping, letting Ryan rest, and he\u2019ll make his decision once he\u2019s ready.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, we do have him for a few more fights. So, still promoting him. And whatever he decides after our contract is over, then that\u2019s his decision. I can get him to the world title, I can help him and guide him in his career and get him the right opponents and then whatever happens after that, it\u2019s up to the fighter. I have no say whatsoever.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI would like to see that fight, actually, with Devin Haney\u2026It\u2019ll be a big matchup. Bigger than the first time around. It\u2019ll be huge here in Las Vegas so I would love to see that\u2026A rematch would be pretty exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a possibility. I mean, anything\u2019s a possibility. I think boxing is funny, you\u2019re as good as your last fight. That\u2019s what boxing is. Ryan looked great, he\u2019s on top of the world with a world title, he\u2019s got a target on his back, everybody wants to fight him. So he\u2019s got fighters to choose from now. So, whatever he decides.\u201d<\/p>\nDe La Hoya on Garcia\u2019s performance against Barrios<\/h2>\n
On Garcia dropping Barrios early in the fight<\/h2>\n
On Garcia matching up with Stevenson<\/h2>\n
On his current contractual situation with Garcia and if he\u2019s worried Zuffa or someone else might make a run at him<\/h2>\n
On whether a Haney rematch is next<\/h2>\n
On whether they want to pursue a Rolly Romero rematch<\/h2>\n