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  - AFFLICTION VP DENIES HBO CLAIMS ON DE LA HOYA
Monday, January 26, 2009 - by Mick Hammond - MMAWeekly.com
In what appears to be the continuation of an ongoing smear campaign against mixed martial arts, this past Saturday night HBO boxing broadcaster Larry Merchant made the claim that clothing company Affliction paid Oscar De La Hoya for his participation in the promotion’s Day of Reckoning pay-per-view in Anaheim, Calif.
During the HBO broadcast of the Shane Mosley versus Antonio Margarito boxing match, Merchant commented how De Lay Hoya was absent from the Staples Center in Los Angeles for the fight because he, “Was paid five million dollars by a t-shirt maker so he would personally be involved in the promotion of a mixed martial arts show.”
In response to the comments made by Merchant, Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio said exclusively to MMAWeekly.com, “I think they’re completely ridiculous.”
Merchant made no comment of where he got his information, but according to Atencio, the statement appears to be fabricated.
“I don’t see where they would get it from,” stated Atencio. “But based on the comment I would say that yeah, he definitely had to make it up.
“I’m not him, so I’m not going to assume anything like possibly they would. I’m not going to make rumors; all I can say is that it’s completely false.”
According to Atencio, De La Hoya was at the Honda Center event because his Golden Boy Promotions was truly involved with the event because of their interest in mixed martial arts, and not because of an alleged payday.
“We knew he was going to be there (because) he’s our partner,” commented Atencio. “Being our partner – the good partner that he is – he honored and wanted to live up to his part of the bargain; that was being part of the show.”
As it stands currently, Atencio confirmed that Golden Boy Promotions continues to have a partnership with Affliction and will be involved with the mixed martial arts promotion’s future endeavors.
De La Hoya, at the Day of Reckoning post-fight press conference, affirmed Atencio's comments about the duration of the two companies' relationship. "This is not a short-term relationship with Golden Boy and Affliction. This is a long-term relationship where we are looking forward to stage bigger events, stage better fights, even though I don't know how it can get better than this."
As for Larry Merchant, don’t expect to see him involved with a mixed martial arts show anytime soon; as he told HBO broadcast commentator and fellow MMA detractor Jim Lampley, “It would take that much (money), Jim, to get me to go to one of those things.”
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