Who is Oscar De La Hoya, 47, and is he making a return to boxing?
OSCAR De La Hoya shocked the boxing world on Wednesday when he announced he's stepping out of retirement to make his return into the ring.
Twelve years after announcing his retirement following a loss to Manny Pacquiao on Decemeber 6, 2008, the 11-time titlist confirmed he’s going to start sparring in the coming weeks as he preps to step back inside the ring.
Who is Oscar De La Hoya?
Oscar De La Hoya, 47, is a professional boxer, MMA and boxing promoter.
In 2002, he founded Golden Boy Promotions, a combat sport promotional firm that also owns 25 percent stake in the Houston Dynamo.
Born and raised in East Los Angeles, California, De La Hoya is the first American of Mexican descent to own a national boxing promotional firm.
Nicknamed The Golden Boy, De La Hoya competed from 1992 to 2008, winning 11 world titles in six weight classes.
The Golden Boy competed in 45 fights throughout his career, winning 39 of them, 30 by way of knockout and losing six.
Is he making a return to boxing?
On August 19, 2020, De La Hoya announced he’s stepping out of retirement as he looks to resume his boxing career.
The 47-year-old retired in April 2009, four months after his defeat to Pacquiao, his fourth loss in seven fights.
The Golden Boy told ESPN he is preparing for a comeback, and not just for an exhibition like Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr.
De La Hoya, who won an Olympic gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Games, said, “The rumors are true, and I’m going to start sparring in the next weeks.
“It’s a real fight. I miss being in the ring, I love boxing. Boxing is what gave me everything I have today, and I just miss it.
“Look, it’s been a long time, yes. But actually my jab feels faster than ever.
“I have to make sure that my conditioning is perfect, my health is good. And that’s going to take place in the next few weeks. So we’ll see.”
When did he fight Floyd Mayweather?
In 2007, De La Hoya sign on to defend his title against WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr.
The fight took place on May 5, 2007 at the sold-out MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.
De La Hoya pressed throughout, doing best when using his left jab, but Mayweather controlled the later rounds and was awarded the split decision.
On May 3, 2008, De La Hoya fought Steve Forbes, in a tuneup for a possible rematch with Mayweather. De La Hoya came out victorious as he opened a cut near Forbes’ eye in the sixth round, winning the bout by unanimous decision in 12.
On June 6, 2008, Mayweather announced his first of many subsequent retirements from boxing, which effectively ended the talks of a rematch with De La Hoya.
Why did Oscar De La Hoya retire?
After his fight against Pacquiao, Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach stated, “We knew we had him after the first round. He had no legs, he was hesitant and he was shot.”
After the defeat, De La Hoya crossed the ring to Pacquiao’s corner to confirm Roach’s pre-fight predictions that he’d grown too old and told Roach, “You’re right, Freddie. I don’t have it anymore.”
When asked by reporters whether he would continue fighting, De La Hoya responded, “My heart still wants to fight, that’s for sure. But when your physical doesn’t respond, what can you do? I have to be smart and make sure I think my future plans.”
He went on to announce his retirement on April 14, 2009.
Now 12-years after his last fight, De La Hoya announced his return to boxing.
When did he open up about drugs and addiction?
In 2011, De La Hoya said in a television interview that he had thought about suicide and had been going to rehab because he became dependent on drugs and alcohol.
“Rock bottom was recently,” De La Hoya said during the interview. “Within a couple of years, just thinking if my life was even worth it. I don’t have the strength, I don’t have the courage to take my own life but I was thinking about it.”
De La Hoya confirmed during that time he had been sober for three months after undergoing treatment and joining Alcoholics Anonymous.
“There were drugs, my drug of choice was cocaine and alcohol. Cocaine was recent, the last two years, last two-and-a-half years, and I depended more on the alcohol than the cocaine,” De La Hoya said.
“It took me to a place where I felt safe, it took me to a place where I felt as if nobody can say anything to me, it took me to a place where I just can reach out and grab my mom.”
Who is Oscar De La Hoya's wife?
De La Hoya married Millie Corretjer on October 5, 2001.
Corretjer is a Puerto Rican singer and actress. She is the granddaughter of influential poet and one-time Secretary General of the pro-independence Puerto Rican Nationalist Party, Juan Antonio Corretjer.
The pair split in 2016 after 15-years together.
The couple has three children together, a son, Oscar Gabriel De La Hoya, and two daughters, Nina Lauren Ninette De La Hoya and Victoria Lauren Rose De La Hoya.
De La Hoya also has two other sons from his previous relationships.
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What is Oscar De La Hoya's net worth?
De La Hoya has an estimated net worth of $200million.
He also owns a condominium in Pasadena, California, that’s reportedly worth $2.65million.