Mayweather-McGregor bout disastrous for UFC – De La Hoya

Oscar De La Hoya believes a potential mega-money fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Conor McGregor would be disastrous for UFC.

UFC president Dana White recently suggested the bout is inevitable following months of posturing from the pair.

McGregor has vowed to knock out the retired Mayweather, who went 49-0 in his incredible career.

Promoter De La Hoya, who lost to Mayweather in 2007, has previously said the fight would be an embarrassment for boxing.

But he believes the sight of Mayweather defeating UFC’s biggest star would mean humiliation for the company and does not expect the organisation to allow McGregor to risk tarnishing its reputation.

Asked if there was too much money on the table for the fight not to happen, De La Hoya told FightHype: “Well, I mean, there is a lot of money but there’s more money involved when you’re an entity like the UFC who was just bought for 4.6 billion dollars, and risking your biggest star to a boxer like Floyd and being ridiculed inside the ring is not worth it.

“There’s more money at stake letting them risk their biggest star fight against Floyd – it would be disastrous for the UFC so I don’t see it happening.”

De La Hoya serves as promoter for WBO light middleweight champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and would like to see Mayweather end his retirement to face the Mexican at 160 pounds.

Pressed on whether should come out of retirement, De La Hoya replied: “Sure, why not. Of course, yeah. And face Canelo at 160.”