De La Hoya puts aside feud with Mayweather for COVID-19 cause

Golden Boy Promotions Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya gestures during a news conference for the bout between Canelo Alvarez and WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev at the KA Theatre at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino on October 30, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Kovalev will defend his title against Alvarez, who is making his debut at light heavyweight, at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on November 2. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP

MANILA, Philippines—Oscar De La Hoya is putting aside his years-long grudge with Floyd Mayweather Jr. for a good cause.

In an interview with TMZ, “the Golden Boy” challenged Mayweather to a pushup contest and whoever finishes with the more reps will donate a corresponding dollar amount to help combat the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

De La Hoya had already donated $250,000 to Adventist Health Memorial Hospital in Los Angeles but said that more people should come together and fight against the virus.

“I know Floyd Mayweather has donated money to various organizations. Floyd, let’s match what I donated,” said De La Hoya in the interview. “I challenge you to a pushup contest and whoever wins then you get to donate more money.”

“We all have to come together in these tough times.”

De La Hoya and Mayweather have a longstanding feud that dates back to when they were still active boxers.

Another person De La Hoya doesn’t have the sweetest relationships with is UFC President Dana White, but the iconic boxer also reached out to the MMA mastermind and UFC minority owners Lorenzo Ferttita and Frank Ferttita III.

The Ferttita brothers were the previous owners of the UFC.

“I’m calling out Dana White, the Ferttita brothers, I’m calling out all the business owners, the team owners, calling everybody out,” said De La Hoya. “You don’t have to donate crazy amounts of money, but create awareness. A dollar or two, that money will go a long way.”

“The hospitals, they need equipment. They need gloves and they need shoe protection. If you do five pushups donate five bucks, if you do 10 then donate 10 bucks. Imagine millions of people doing this, we can help out a lot of people especially those helping in the hospitals.”