Oscar De La Hoya slams Floyd Mayweather as 'boring' and 'afraid' in scathing open letter

The former boxer's tirade was published by Playboy magazine

Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather (Getty Images)

Oscar De La Hoya has described Floyd Mayweather as ‘boring’ and ‘afraid’ in a scathing open letter published by Playboy magazine.

De La Hoya lost to Mayweather at super welterweight level in what was, at that point, the most lucrative fight of all time.

‘Money’s’ superfight victory over Manny Pacquaio earlier this year superseded the 2007 bout, grossing $410m in pay-per-view sales, and was followed by a routine win over Andre Berto.

The victory over Berto brought Mayweather’s record to 49-0, matching that of legendary unbeaten heavyweight Rocky Marciano. The 38-year-old subsequently retired from boxing and De La Hoya starts his letter by sardonically congratulating his rival.

“Dear Floyd,” the letter begins. “You did it. You made it to the 49–0 mark, a milestone that you like to say only the great Rocky Marciano reached but that was actually achieved by others, including my idol Julio César Chávez – but who’s counting? And now you’re retiring. Again.

“Truth be told, I’m not unhappy to see you retire,” De La Hoya continues. “Neither are a lot of boxing fans. Scratch that. Most boxing fans. Why? Because the fight game will be a better one without you in it.”

De La Hoya, now chief executive of Golden Boy Promotions, goes on to ridicule Mayweather for his perceived reluctance to take risks and defensive style.

Speaking specifically on the Berto fight, De La Hoya writes: “How to describe it? A bust? A disaster? A snooze fest? An affair so one-sided that on one judge’s card Berto didn’t win a single round? Everyone in boxing knew Berto didn’t have a chance. I think more people watched Family Guy reruns that night than tuned in to that pay-per-view bout.

“But I didn’t mind shelling out $75 for the HD broadcast,” he says. “In fact it’s been a great investment. When my kids have trouble falling asleep, I don’t have to read to them anymore. I just play them your Berto fight. They don’t make it past round three.”

I think more people watched Family Guy reruns that night than tuned in to that pay-per-view bout.

&#13; <p>Oscar De La Hoya on Floyd Mayweather's fight with Andre Berto</p>&#13;

In the letter, the retired Mexican American is particularly critical of Mayweather’s decision to fight Golden Boy’s Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez when, he argues, his client, at 23-years-old, was too young to have a realistic chance of beating him.

“You took the easy way out. When you weren’t dancing around fading stars (show idea for you: Dancing Around the Fading Stars), you were beating up on outclassed opponents,” De La Hoya writes.

“A lot of your opponents were above-average fighters, but they weren’t your caliber. You’re a very talented fighter, the best defensive fighter of our generation. But what good is talent if you don’t test it?”

Floyd Mayweather kneeling following his victory over Andre Berto (Getty Images)

“Boxing will also be a better place without the Mouth. Your mouth, to be precise, the one that created ‘Money’ Mayweather. I know you needed that Money Mayweather persona. Before he—and Golden Boy -Promotions—came along, nobody watched your fights. You couldn’t even sell out your hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

“But the Mouth doesn’t have a place in boxing; save it for the WWE. Unless you’re someone like Ali, whose fights were as scintillating as his banter, the all-talk, no-entertainment model cheapens our sport. Boxers should speak with their fists and with their hearts.

“They don’t have to say anything to prove themselves. You’re going to have a legacy. You’ll be remembered as the guy who made the most money. As for your fights? We’ve already forgotten them.”

Before signing off, De La Hoya repeats his ‘Dancing With the Stars’ line, noting that if Mayweather were to appear on the US reality show, it would be: “a job that’s safe, pays well and lets you run around on stage. Something you’ve been doing for most of your career.”