Donald Trump 'thanked' by Oscar de la Hoya for inspiring Saul Alvarez vs Amir Khan mega-fight

The Golden Boy promoter organised the bout in protest against Trump’s opinions on Muslims and Mexicans

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump (Getty Images)

Oscar De La Hoya sarcastically ‘thanked’ Donald Trump for giving him the inspiration to organise the upcoming super-fight between Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Amir Khan.

The Golden Boy Promotions chairman, who has played golf with the Republican presidential candidate in the past, said he organised the bout in protest after hearing Trump’s opinions on Muslims and Mexicans.

Khan, a British-born Muslim fighter, will face Mexican-born WBC middleweight world champion Alvarez in Las Vegas on 7 May, the week of Mexican national holiday Cinco de Mayo.

"It's mindboggling to know that he has those types of philosophies and thoughts,” De La Hoya told CNN.

“I was watching Donald Trump speaking his nonsense, and I said to myself: 'Why don't I put a Muslim fighter and a Mexican fighter in the same ring and create a mega mega event on Cinco de Mayo week, just to show Trump.'”

Trump, the current frontrunner among the Grand Old Party’s candidates for the White House, has called for a ban on Muslims entering the United States and for a wall to be built on the country’s border with Mexico.

WBC middleweight world champion Saul Alvarez and Amir Khan (Getty Images)

"I thank Trump for giving me the inspiration to come up with this mega event,” De La Hoya, an American-Mexican, added.

“We're going to have millions of Muslims, millions of Mexicans, buying pay-per-view, and watching the fight live from Las Vegas."

Khan, speaking at a pre-fight press conference in Los Angeles, noted that although it is Cinco de Mayo week, he expects British fans to be out in force.

“It will be like a game of chess,” he said. “Canelo is very strong. I have a very good trainer who will tell me the right game plan. We will go in to win this fight, and I will prove people wrong.

“Even though it is Cinco de Mayo, the British fans will come out. In Vegas, there will be more British flags then Mexican flags.”