Oscar De La Hoya defends Deontay Wilder from critics: “It’s been thrilling watching you”

The Golden Boy, Oscar De La Hoya, has come to the defense of former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder. Following his heavy loss to Zhilei Zhang, the full weight of the Boxing world came down on The Bronze Bomber, telling him in no uncertain terms that he was finished.

In a firm stance against these voices, De La Hoya has lashed out at the fans and media, saying that it is never appropriate to tell a fighter when to retire.

“Never tell a fighter that he needs to retire. It’s a personal decision that only the fighter should make because it’s our livelihood, our love, our passion.”

Then speaking to Wilder himself, De La Hoya continued, “Deontay, keep moving forward, man, whatever you do, whatever you decide. Don’t make any hasty decisions; go on vacation and take your beautiful family with you. When you come back and calmly decide, in your heart, you’ll make the right decision. This is a deeply personal choice, this is life. So, take your time, brother. We love you, and it’s been thrilling to watch you all these years.”

De La Hoya’s support serves as a reminder of the deep respect that seasoned fighters have for one another, understanding the immense pressures and sacrifices involved in maintaining a career at the highest levels of the sport.

Promoter Frank Warren had said that Wilder should have never fought Zhang, questioning instead why he did not retire after his trilogy against Tyson Fury. De La Hoya makes it clear that this is a wholly inappropriate comment and that boxers must control their own destinies.