Oscar De La Hoya’s ongoing criticism of boxing’s regulatory direction has gained renewed focus after Mark Kriegel’s comments about Zuffa Boxing were amplified by the organization itself, sparking a transparency dispute that is now on the verge of legal escalation.

At the center of this discussion is Gustavo Olivieri, lawyer and president of the World Boxing Organization, who responded directly to the Kriegel-Zuffa discussion and the allegations regarding sanctioning bodies and transparency standards.

Olivieri said any allegations of wrongdoing must be supported by evidence and dealt with through formal legal channels, warning that unverified claims cannot be treated as fact in the public arena of boxing.

He added that if evidence exists, it should be provided through appropriate investigative channels, including law enforcement channels such as the FBI, strengthening the process – not public discussion – of deciding what matters.

Strengthening the fight intensifies the disputes

The situation changed after Zuffa Boxing shared Kriegel’s comments in their “Transparency is Our Goal” message, taking the discussion straight to their own promotional narrative.

Kriegel’s remarks, made on the Boxing with Mannix and Mora podcast, focused on fighter disputes, legal history and transparency issues in the current boxing landscape.

He addressed Oscar De La Hoya’s involvement in high-profile fighter situations involving Canelo Alvarez, Ryan Garcia and Vergil Ortiz, part of an ongoing challenge to disclosure standards across the sport.

This amplification pushed the argument beyond commentary, bringing promotional, legal and regulatory voices into the same developing situation.

The pressure is mounting ahead of the fight weekend

In the hours before an significant weekend, everything intensified in boxing.

There will be multiple title fights and there is expected to be movement in the overall picture pound for pound.

Attention is now turning to the structure proposed by Zuffa Boxing, which is at the center of disputes over player contracts, control and remuneration in a centralized system.

Wider implications for boxing

At its heart is Ali’s bill – and whether the proposed changes could reshape boxing at the highest level, particularly in terms of fighter autonomy, promotional control and earning opportunities.

Supporters say reform can ensure financial coherence and stability. Critics, including De La Hoya’s recent comments, warn it could concentrate control, reduce flexibility and change the way athletes move through the sport.

What began as a debate over transparency has now turned into something bigger – a structural conflict over how boxing is run, who controls it and where it goes next.

About the author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Since 2010, he has been interviewing world champions, breaking down international titles exclusively and reporting from the ring. His work is distributed on major platforms including Apple News. Read the full biography.

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The former two-division world champion reacted after Lou DiBella claimed White was already a better promoter, pointing to his achievements in the UFC and financial support as Zuffa Boxing begins to expand.

Malignaggi rejected this idea, arguing that White’s boxing record was still too circumscribed to support this thesis.

“We haven’t seen enough of Dana White in boxing,” Malignaggi told Boxingscene about Zuffa. “He’s been pretty average so far.”

He added that while White has plenty of financial support, that alone does not guarantee success in a sport that operates differently from mixed martial arts.

“There is a gigantic war chest, but he can still throw the whole bag and fail,” Malignaggi said.

Instead, Malignaggi pointed to Hearn’s achievements, citing the number of champions produced under Matchroom Boxing and the company’s continued presence around the world.

“Eddie Hearn is the better promoter at the moment,” he said. “He created more champions. He does more.”

Trainer Stephen Edwards also questioned DiBella’s stance, noting that Zuffa Boxing is still in its early stages and has not yet produced enough results to warrant comparison.

White has begun to put together a lineup that includes Jai Opetaia and Richardson Hitchins, but his long-term impact on boxing remains unconfirmed.

Malignaggi’s point comes down to results. Zuffa has signed names such as Jai Opetaia and Conor Benn, but early performances have yet to force the rest of the sport to respond.

There is no milestone event or signature night involved. Hearn, in turn, has spent years building champions and guiding sanctioning bodies to make grave fights. Until Zuffa delivers something at this level, claims of its dominance continue to outweigh what has actually been produced.

Teddy Atlas believes one fighter has a slight advantage ahead of Saturday’s clash between David Benavidez and Gilberto Ramirez.

It looks like Benavidez will become a three-division world champion next weekend as he makes an ambitious move up to cruiserweight to challenge unified champion Ramirez for his WBA and WBO titles at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

With just a few hours left until the fight, respected coach-turned-analyst Atlas gave his final verdict on the fight: reveal in The Fight that he felt the “Mexican Monster” should win the competitive battle.

“I like Benavidez. I think it will be a close fight. It will be a good fight and a really competitive fight where I wouldn’t be shocked even if there was a possibility of a draw.

“I think Benavidez’s speed will be a factor and his ability to get open in those sets, but Ramirez’s stability and his skill… Benavidez will connect with punches and hit you, especially if he puts you on the ropes, but Ramirez will hit you as well.

“He can counter punch. He can mix well, he can fight inside and out, they both love to hit the body. I think it’s going to be a very close, competitive fight.”

“A little more pure talent on Benavidez’s side, but don’t forget that talent is to be stable, reliable and consistent, and Ramirez is like that. I like Benavidez in a really close fight.”

One of the people who does not agree with Atlas is Ramirez’s promoter Oscar De La Hoya, who criticized the “Mexican Monster’s” chin before Saturday’s fight and believes that his protégé will win by knockout.