Morning Report: Oscar De La Hoya calls Zuffa Boxing ‘Trojan Horse’ designed to exploit fighters

Key Points:

• Oscar De La Hoya criticized Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing project, comparing it to a "Trojan Horse" that lures fighters with big paydays before drastically reducing their earnings once a monopoly is established.
• De La Hoya warned that Zuffa Boxing’s model mirrors the UFC’s, with short-term, lucrative deals for top names masking a future where average fighters will be underpaid under new league-controlled rules.
• He highlighted controversies such as Jai Opetaia’s legal battle with the IBF over Zuffa’s unrecognized "unicorn belt," illustrating how Zuffa Boxing is creating its own rules and undermining established boxing organizations.
• Despite Zuffa Boxing signing big names like Shakur Stevenson and Conor Benn, De La Hoya cautioned younger fighters against being misled by initial overspending, predicting that sustainable fighter compensation will decline sharply.
• De La Hoya’s comments emphasize his belief that Zuffa Boxing’s strategy is to monopolize the sport and control fighters’ careers and earnings, urging fighters not to "sell out" to the promotion.