Former boxing champion Oscar De La Hoya weighed in on Ronda Rousey’s shocking loss to Holly Holm over the weekend on Good Day LA earlier on Monday (h/t Luis Sandoval of FightHype.com):
Well that’s what happens when you’ve faced the best. Look, it happened to Muhammad Ali; it happened to the very best. When you take chances, when you dare to be great, then you’re going to get beat at some point in your career. That’s what happens. I mean, she didn’t want to take the easy route and just fight anybody. Good for [Holly] Holm.
He added, “You know this, when fighters taste success, the hype around them, sometimes they forget about the training. They’re thinking more about their interviews and the whole Hollywood thing. It’s so distracting.”
De La Hoya’s remarks seem fairly measured and reasonable in comparison to the vitriol some sent Rousey’s way after her loss, from fellow MMA fighters to Lady Gaga and 50 Cent. (Warning: Link contains NSFW language.)
Even Donald Trump took a shot at Rousey:
Rousey came into her fight against Holm a perfect 12-0 and had beaten her previous three opponents in a combined one minute and four seconds. She was a huge favorite against Holm and was expected to quickly finish the fight, as has become her calling card, but Holm kept her distance, effectively using a strong jab before finishing off Rousey with a strong left high-kick.
It was the perfect game plan from Holm. But De La Hoya suspects Rousey will be ready for the inevitable rematch.
“I can guarantee you that if they have a rematch, I don’t know, who knows, it might be a whole different story, but I’ll tell you one thing; Ronda’s going to be focused and determined. That’s what makes it fun.”
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com