Oscar De La Hoya/Photo by Gene Blevins
Oscar De La Hoya told this newspaper during a June 2014 sit-down that he was through with alcohol. This declaration came some nine months after his second trip to a rehab facility, where he was treated for alcohol and cocaine abuse.
But according to TMZ, De La Hoya on early Wednesday was arrested in Pasadena for driving under the influence. There are currently no further details available.
Eric Gomez, De La Hoya’s longtime friend who is also president of De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, returned a phone call seeking comment. However, he had little to say because he said he was in the dark until his phone started ringing Wednesday afternoon after he conducted a news conference for Saturday’s Golden Boy card in Indio.
“I can’t comment,” Gomez said. “I don’t have any information to begin with. But the attorneys are looking into everything.”
De La Hoya was asked in June 2014 if he understood he can never drink again. He responded in the affirmative.
“I’m convinced one thousand percent, a thousand percent, that I can’t,” he said. “That’s in my heart, that’s in my head. And that’s why I continue do work every single day. … That’s what it is. For the rest of my life. What that means is several things. I’m going to work harder than ever, I’m going to work honestly, I’m going to do what I really love doing, with passion. I’m going to have a great family life. I’m going to live life and do what I love doing. And that’s boxing. I can’t wait. I’m excited. I really am.”
De La Hoya is chairman of Golden Boy, one of the world’s top promotional companies. De La Hoya the fighter was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2014.
