The time to book Saul "Canelo" Alvarez's next fight is quickly running out.
Oscar De La Hoya used Ryan Garcia's fight card Friday night on DAZN to make that message clear — especially warning British boxers Billy Joe Saunders and Callum Smith that they're about to lose the boxing opportunity of a lifetime.
"There have been multiple offers out there," De La Hoya told DAZN's Chris Mannix. "They're all on the table. It's funny because everyone talks a big game — 'Well, I want Canelo, I can beat Canelo.' That's BS. Nobody wants to fight Canelo. They're all afraid of him. He is the superstar in boxing and if you fight him, you'll make the most money. What's the problem? Pull the trigger. Let's make these fights happen."
That's when the Golden Boy Promotions boss turned his attention toward Saunders and Smith.
"I've offered BJ Saunders a fight (against Canelo) and he's balking at it," De La Hoya continued. "I want Smith to fight (Canelo) and he's balking at it. I have four other guys that I can negotiate with and talk to. If you guys don't take it, then we're moving on to somebody else. But (Canelo) will fight in May."
"Time is running out," De La Hoya said. "I have until Sunday ... or Monday the latest or else I'm moving on."
De La Hoya's strong words came a day after he called Smith an "idiot" for reportedly turning down the fight with Canelo.
"He's an idiot," De La Hoya told ESPN. "Callum Smith is a good fighter and has an amazing shot of beating Canelo and he turns it down?
"Callum Smith turned down the fight and he would have made three to four times the money he has ever made and he turned it down," he added. "I wish him all the best and hopefully he can make the same money somewhere else. But Callum Smith, the most dangerous fighter out there at super middleweight, is out there and he's bragging how he wants to fight the best and he turns it down? What's wrong with these fighters? What's happening with the legacies? It's all business now."