Oscar De La Hoya Says Senate ‘Buzzsaw’ Sealed Zuffa Approval

Oscar De La Hoya followed through on his promise to challenge what was presented at the Ali Act hearing, but the tone of his response points to a belief the outcome was already decided.

“We walked into a buzzsaw,” said De La Hoya when describing the hearing.

De La Hoya had warned beforehand that he was stepping into a situation stacked against him, with the ending effectively written before testimony began.

In the days since, his stance has shifted from trying to stop the momentum to exposing what he believes was sold under a different premise.

Claims challenged

At the center of that pushback is the presentation delivered by TKO executive Nick Khan, who outlined a Zuffa Boxing structure built around centralized opportunities, broadcast reach, and commercial growth, as detailed during the Ali Act hearing.

Those elements were framed as part of a model that could improve conditions for fighters, including minimum pay standards, medical coverage, and broader revenue participation.

According to the Golden Boy promoter, the protections highlighted as selling points are not new additions but features that already exist within the current system.

In his view, the pitch presented to lawmakers risks creating the impression that fighters lack safeguards that have been in place for years.

De La Hoya’s argument: the hearing wasn’t about debating whether to block the changes — it was a public platform for Khan to make promises to prospective signings.

Outcome accepted

That doesn’t mean he expects the proposal to be stopped. If anything, his reaction points the other way.

It means he believes it was never going to be stopped.

In De La Hoya’s view, the process left little room for a different outcome, convincing him approval of the Zuffa plan was effectively locked in.

Fighters, as Khan noted during his testimony, will have the option to choose whether they sign into the Zuffa structure or remain within boxing’s existing framework.

De La Hoya has acknowledged that reality, but the concern he raises is less about the headline decision and more about how it plays out beneath the surface, a position he reinforced before traveling to Washington in his Clapback Thursday warning.

Pressure point

The biggest pressure point sits with the sport’s middle tier. These are fighters who may not command the top-end purses consistently but can land a career-defining payday when the right opportunity comes along.

Under a long-term, league-style system, that flexibility becomes harder to maintain, particularly if outside offers are no longer part of the equation.

For De La Hoya, that’s where the long-term impact could be felt most sharply. The top names will always have leverage. The fighters just below them often rely on timing, negotiation, and open market movement to maximize their earnings.

That concern leads into the next phase of the debate — not what was said in the hearing, but how those ideas translate once contracts are offered and fighters are asked to choose.

Turning point

His broader conclusion suggests a level of acceptance about where things are heading. Zuffa Boxing is no longer being discussed as a distant possibility but as an incoming presence the rest of the sport will have to deal with.

That leaves promoters, fighters, and governing bodies facing a familiar dilemma — adapt to a new structure or risk being pushed to the margins as it takes hold.

Even the financial foundation behind the project has not escaped scrutiny. Questions around long-term backing have already surfaced following developments elsewhere in sport, including Saudi Arabia’s involvement in ventures such as LIV Golf — something De La Hoya referenced as part of his wider concerns about sustainability.

The debate around the Ali Act now looks less like a discussion over boxing’s future and more like a question of who ends up controlling it.

About the Author

Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a veteran boxing reporter with 15+ years of experience. He has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside since 2010. Read full bio.