Terence Crawford and Oscar De La Hoya have some differing viewpoints as it relates to growing the boxing business.

An existential crisis of sorts has gripped boxing since it was announced earlier this week that Showtime will no longer be programming the sport after the end of this year, effectively ending the broadcaster’s nearly four-decade relationship with The Sweet Science.

The decision was made by Showtime’s parent company, Paramount Global, which cited a desire to invest in scripted series amid a competitive and ever-shifting media landscape.

The news prompted reactions from many prominent figures within boxing, including Golden Boy Promotions founder Oscar De La Hoya and undisputed welterweight champion Terence Crawford, who were engaged in a small dialogue about the future of the sport.

De La Hoya called for a greater sense of cooperation between promoters, while Crawford argued that fighters needed to be involved intimately in the business aspects of boxing if the sport is expected to grow.

“I salute Showtime for their near 40-year commitment to the sport that I love,” De La Hoya wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “I am hopeful that we promoters can use this unfortunate situation to put our differences aside and start working together more often to help make more of the bigger fights and grow our sport.”

But Crawford was not exactly a fan of the Hall of Famer’s response as it seemed to minimize the involvement of the fighter.

“Respectfully @OscarDeLaHoya if the boxers aren’t at the table, it isn’t going to work,” Crawford retorted.”

De La Hoya answered back, saying fighters needed to focus on fighting while their handlers conducted their business for them.

“Respectfully @terencecrawford I disagree, fighters should hire smart competent representation that will lookout for the best interest of his client and fighters should worry about the small window of opportunity they have to fight as many times as they can in their short careers,” De La Hoya wrote.

Crawford fired back, contending that the usual business dynamics in boxing, with promoters and managers handling the business side, needed to be discarded in favor of one that enabled fighters to be part of those discussions.

“This is EXACTLY the point,” Crawford wrote. “I say we need boxers at the table and @OscarDeLaHoya says sit down and shut up. U really think we better if yall keep running things. U don’t get it. We need to do things different, like other sports. We have the power and y’all can’t keep us from using it.”

Showtime recently announced its exit and what followed the announcement was, more controversy and speculation. For nearly four decades, Showtime has been a premier platform for broadcasting major fights in the sport. There had been rumors of them shutting their operations for long. However, when the news arrived it was shocking nevertheless. Confirming them, Paramount Global, the network’s parent company, revealed in a statement on Tuesday that Showtime will no longer be airing boxing events after 2023.

Oscar De La Hoya’s advice to Terence Crawford

The 6-division world champion has pocketed the experience of being both a boxer and a promoter. Based on this, he believes Crawford will only deviate attention from training by involving himself in business. According to him, the team of talented people that he has employed are the ones he should be delegating all the extra work to. Explaining the point De La Hoya said, “What I responded to Crawford was- you have competent and smart people on your team for a reason. You delegate as the fighter because you are the business owner.”

The promoter believes Crawford should stick with what he does best. Compromising on his craft will not yield the best results. “See, I have been a fighter myself. 11-time world champion, gold-medalist, 6-division so what I mean to Crawford is focus on what you do best. From my experience, when you go off and try to do something else, guess what? You take time away from your training. You take time away from being focused and working on your craft,” reiterated De La Hoya

Following the announcement of the demise of Showtime Boxing, those in the sport were vocal about its future – not least Terence Crawford and Oscar De La Hoya.

The broadcaster will end a stellar 37-year relationship inside the ropes, following HBO through the exit door.

It not only leaves PBC and its stars – Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis and Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez to name a couple – without a broadcast partner, the departure signals a change in the sport fighters give their lives to.

Crawford was quick to call for change on social media off the back of the news, pointing to other sports and their success.

De La Hoya – who won world titles in six weight classes before turning his hand to promoting – said promoters must work together.

Recently crowned undisputed welterweight champion, Crawford, responded to De La Hoya to say that the fighters must be at the table.

That’s where the pleasantries ended, as ‘Bud’ Crawford told De La Hoya that his response was the problem he had attempted to highlight initially.

Crawford’s fight with Errol Spence Jr – one of the best of the year so far – was broadcast on Showtime PPV. Where the rematch ends up is now anybody’s guess.

Afew days ago, Terence Crawford struck a blow of authority and positioned himself as the best pound-for-pound fighter of the moment after sweeping Errol Spencer Jr. in nine rounds to become the undisputed welterweight champion.

After overcoming that difficult step, Crawford is looking for a new challenge and has his sights set on undisputed super welterweight champion Jermell Charlo, but the latter has a commitment next September against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.

Charlo will lose WBO title

Charlo will move up two divisions to face Canelo, the American will leave for a moment the super welter belts of the main bodies: WBO, WBC, IBF and WBA, but the Organization would not recognize him for not defending the crown so he would no longer be the undisputed champion.

“If any WBO Participant, including WBO World and Regional Champion, fails to comply with his contractual obligation to fight in any WBO Championship Contest without justifiable cause, the Committee may recommend to the WBO President and the Executive Committee that the fighter be stripped of the title and that the title be declared “Vacant.”

“Or the WBO may take any action deemed proper, equitable, and just against the WBO Participant in accordance with these regulations,” the WBO explained in a statement.

Whatever happens with the fight against Canelo Alvarez, Charlo will remain at 154 pounds, the boxer confirmed in an interview to Showtime.

“I want everyone to know that I’m not done at 154 pounds, but I’m ready to go for the crown,” Charlo said. “Roy was able to move up and down with no problem, he did a great job, I respect him. Now it’s my turn.”