Oscar De La Hoya Uncertain on Schofield-Zepeda Unification

De La Hoya's Initial Response

Oscar De La Hoya expressed interest in a unification bout between Floyd Schofield and William Zepeda during a post-fight interview with DAZN. Schofield had just won the vacant WBA title against Lucas Bahdi when De La Hoya was asked about unifying the lightweight division. However, his response indicated a lack of enthusiasm for matching the two champions from his promotion.

Shift in Focus to Abdullah Mason

When pressed by Chris Mannix about Zepeda being the next opponent, De La Hoya diverted the conversation to Abdullah Mason, suggesting that the fight with Zepeda might not be the immediate priority. He stated, "Well, maybe it’s not the fight to do next, but let’s go with Mason or any world champion in the WBC. Whoever it is, ‘Kid Austin’ is ready." This indicates that while he is open to unification, he may prefer to explore other options first.

Business Considerations

De La Hoya's hesitation can be attributed to business strategy. With two lightweight champions, Golden Boy Promotions can promote them separately, allowing each fighter to headline their own events and build their fan base. A unification bout would mean one champion would lose their title, which complicates promotional opportunities. Additionally, Mason, who is with Top Rank, presents a different scenario that could potentially benefit Golden Boy.

Zepeda's Mandatory Defense

Zepeda faces his own challenges, as the WBC has mandated him to defend against interim champion Jadier Herrera, with purse bids set for October 20. He also has a WBO mandatory to consider, which adds further complexity to the potential unification fight with Schofield. De La Hoya's plans for unification will likely require navigating these mandatory obligations before any matchup can be finalized.