“You’re still my enemy tonight, but even enemies can show respect.”
–King Priam, challenging the powerful Achilles to give back his son
In the often maligned sport of boxing, where it’s better to report the receiving of an insult than the giving of gifts, central to much of what ails the sport occurs as a result of the sick relationship between rival promoters and sponsors.
Boxing, in its renaissance, is in dire need of its own United Way for youth and would be aspirants of the sweet science.
As Oscar De La Hoya was deliberately making news recently for threatening and challenging to obliterate Floyd Mayweather’s comprehensive August 26th dismissal of the ‘Notorious’ Conor McGregor, little (if any) attention was paid to the charitable work for kids done by the company which features the #1 PPV fighter in boxing, Canelo Alvarez.
The 10-time world champion presented new, state-of-the-art boxing equipment valued at thousands of dollars last week at Garden Grove Boxing. De La Hoya was joined by dozens of excited youth who gathered together to receive gloves, hand-wraps, mouth guards, headgear and other state-of-the art boxing equipment. Also during the giveaway, De La Hoya honored Ben Barker and the California Municipal Finance Authority as the 2017 Corporate Partner of the Year in recognition of their commitment to serving youth in Southern California.
By fighting for a select few of those who may eventually fight for us, Golden Boy Promotions has consistently given back to the very community and surrounding areas that produced the 1992 Olympic gold medalist and six-division world champion known as the “Golden Boy”.
“This event is about giving back, about giving a helping hand,” said Chairman and CEO De La Hoya, who has also provided relief to earthquake victims in Mexico and the hurricane ravaged Puerto Rico. “This is about giving kids hope. When I was a kid, I used to love it when people would stop by the gym to give words of encouragement. It was inspiring. So if we can change and inspire and help families and kids out–then we’ve done our jobs as human beings.”
“I want to thank our partners at California Municipal Finance Authority, Garden Grove Boxing and the entire staff at Golden Boy Promotions for making this event possible. As long as I can give back, I’ll do it for the rest of my life. When you accomplish something in life and you have the opportunity to give back, then do it. It’s my motivation and my way of saying thank you.”
Other boxing promoters simply need to do more in expanding the outreach of its stars, by either showcasing unknown community efforts, or by making sure that it is no longer nonexistent. This was the fifth annual boxing equipment giveaway the Oscar De La Hoya Foundation has hosted for after-school youth programs. The Foundation, with the support of its corporate partner of the year, California Municipal Finance Authority, is donating new, modern boxing equipment to five gyms in Southern California that serve youth in economically poor communities. The equipment will help these local gyms to provide children and teenagers in their communities with an opportunity to practice the sweet science during their respective after-school programs. Recipients of the Foundation’s boxing equipment donations this giving season include Garden Grove Boxing in Garden Grove, Eddie Heredia in Los Angeles, Westside Boxing Club in Los Angeles, Azteca Boxing Club in Bell, and Duarte Boxing Club in Duarte.
This is outstanding.
During a scheduled conference call on Wednesday to promote Miguel Cotto V Sadam Ali on December 2 at Madison Square Garden, I’ll be sure to ask De La Hoya about any specific plans to further address the ongoing crisis that continues to afflict Puerto Rico, as many diehard Nuyoricans will be on hand in support of their beloved Cotto in his exit from boxing. De La Hoya also recently made news by jabbing promoter Lou DiBella for his handling of WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, seemingly with renewed interest in the “Bronze Bomber,” now fighting in greener pastures after reluctantly walking away from Golden Boy.
