What would UFC president Dana White like to see happen in the upcoming boxing match between Oscar De La Hoya and Vitor Belfort? You probably already had a good idea, but in case not, White made it very clear Tuesday.
“I’m praying Vitor knocks this crackhead out – and viciously,” White said on “The Pat McAfee Show.” He added, “Viciously knocks him out.”
De La Hoya, the 48-year-old former boxing champion, and Belfort, the 44-year-old former UFC light heavyweight champ, are booked to headline a Triller Fight Club pay-per-view Sept. 11 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. For De La Hoya, it’ll be his first fight since a December 2008 loss to Manny Pacquiao. Belfort will enter a professional boxing match for just the second time in his career, the first being a 2006 knockout win.
White has a history of feuding with De La Hoya in recent years – seemingly about everything under the sun – which makes his wish of a Belfort knockout no surprise. But White also was willing to give credit to De La Hoya as an all-time great boxer and perhaps won’t be holding his breath at seeing that outcome.
“As much as I can’t stand that dirt bag, De La Hoya is legit,” White said. “Back in the day when me and De La Hoya were cool, I actually was up in his camp. Just his jab could knock people out. De La Hoya in his prime was the real deal. This is a real fight between two real guys. I think that Vitor obviously has the power to KO him, but De La Hoya’s no joke, either.”
Still, that didn’t stop White from taking a shot at De La Hoya’s past issues with substance abuse.
“Hopefully all the coke sniffing and tequila drinking and whatever other sh*t that guy has been up to has caught up with him,” White said, “and Vitor lays one right on the big mouth of his and knocks him unconscious.”
