Oscar De La Hoya tells of drug use, cheating, thinking of suicide

Oscar De La Hoya says he has struggled with cocaine, alcohol and infidelity -- and has even contemplated suicide.

"Rock bottom was recently," the boxing great said in an interview with Spanish-language broadcaster Univision, according to an English-language transcript it provided. "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, who retired in 2009 after winning 10 world titles in six divisions, said he has been sober for three months.

"There were drugs. My drug of choice was cocaine and alcohol, hmm. Cocaine was recent. The last 2 years, last 2½ years and I depended more on the alcohol than the cocaine," he 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."

Before his mother, Cecilia, died of breast cancer in 1990, De La Hoya promised her he would win an Olympic gold medal. He made good on his word in the 1992 Barcelona Games.

De La Hoya won his last title in May 2006, beating Ricardo Mayorga in six rounds for the WBC 154-pound belt. He finished with a record of 39-6 and 30 knockouts.

MORE:

Q&A: The return (again) of Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. on blood tests: He's for them

Abner Mares beats Joseph Agbeko for bantamweight world title

-- Melissa Rohlin

Photo: Oscar De La Hoya. Credit: Carlos Chavez / Los Angeles Times

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

De La Hoya: Mayweather-Mosley fight 'not too far' from getting done

Promoter Oscar De La Hoya said today that ongoing negotiations to stage a Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Shane Mosley welterweight fight in May were "not too far away" from being completed.

"Is that fight going to happen? I'm confident it will," De La Hoya told reporters today as he promoted his Golden Boy Promotions' next "Fight Night Club" event featuring a main event between junior welterweights Victor Ortiz of Ventura versus Hector Alatorre Feb. 25 at L.A. Live's Club Nokia.

De La Hoya said Golden Boy Chief Executive Richard Schaefer was handling the negotiations between Golden Boy fighter Mosley and Mayweather, who retained the company to handle his crumbled talks last year with Manny Pacquiao.

De La Hoya, who lost to Pomona's Mosley in a close 2003 decision in which Mosley later admitted that he had unknowingly used designer steroids and energy-boosting EPO in the days before the bout, said he didn't foresee a spat over drug testing like the one that happened between Mayweather and Pacquiao.

Mayweather's lead advisor has told the Times that any Mayweather opponent must submit to random blood and urine tests before a fight.

"I believe Mosley will raise his hand, and say, 'Take me to the lab,'" De La Hoya said.

Victor Ortiz has some food for thought

Boxer Victor Ortiz had one thing on his mind, and he didn't have the patience to deal with anything else.

He just weighed in at 139 3/4 pounds Friday at Star Plaza in front of Staples Center the day before his match against Argentina's knockout specialist Marcos  Maidana. Maidana, who weighed in at 140 pounds, and Ortiz are fighting at Staples Center on Saturday night in an HBO-televised main event for the interim World Boxing Association junior-welterweight title in a 12-round bout.

But there was no time for sticking around to sign autographs or grant interviews, even if fans and reporters chased Ortiz as he crossed Chick Hearn Court toward LA Live. Sure, a few fans stopped him in his track. A television reporter even attached a lavalier microphone on his shirt. But nothing was going to delay Ortiz from the one thing he's been craving all week: food.

Ortiz, 22, ran up the sidewalk and turned left into The Farm of Beverly Hills. At a back table, he wasn't in a talking mood, either, despite sitting with various people, such as his girlfriend, Kylie Travers, his best friend, Brandon Carmichael, and his trainers, Danny Garcia and Mario Aguiniga. Once he scarfed down chicken alfredo, bread, a bowl of mushroom soup and a Snickers bar, a different mood emerged.

"I haven’t really eaten a complete meal in two days," Ortiz told The Times at The Farm of Beverly Hills about his effort to maintain the 140-pound weight class. "I’m not the nicest person to get along with before eating. There’s a lot of people like that."

Source: Mayweather Jr. return to be announced Saturday

HBO and Golden Boy Promotions have called an 11 a.m. news conference Saturday to announce the return of Floyd Mayweather Jr. to boxing after more than 17 months away from the ring, a source close to the negotiations told The Times on Friday night.

The unbeaten Mayweather Jr. has been in negotiations to fight Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez at 144 pounds on July 18 in Las Vegas, Marquez, HBO and other sources have reported to The Times and other news agencies.

Mayweather Jr. last fought in December 2007, knocking out Ricky Hatton to hand he Englishman his only loss, in a 147-pound bout. He retired a few months later as promoters attempted to arrange a rematch between Mayweather and Oscar De La Hoya.

Now, just hours before Hatton fights Manny Pacquiao on Saturday night in a junior-welterweight bout at MGM Grand, the "Pretty Boy" will announce he's back in the game.

-- Lance Pugmire

Best moments from De La Hoya retirement

Oscar De La Hoya did what so few boxers (and other athletes) do Tuesday by retiring at the appropriate time.

Doing it back home in Los Angeles, a few miles from where he was raised in East L.A., was a nice touch, and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's stopping by for some kind words about one of the most shining examples of a local boy making good was deserved.

"He grew up in humble beginnings but with a family with strong commitment and strong values," Villaraigosa said. "This wasn't a young man who was born with a silver spoon. He struggled and fought ... to make his community and his family proud."

He told De La Hoya how proud the city was that its fighter defied "the odds against all odds to reach the pinnacle of his profession."

Before simply stating, "I'm announcing my retirement," De La Hoya, 36, confided, "These last four months [since a lopsided loss to Manny Pacquiao] have been very difficult for me."

He then added, "I've been doing this since I was 5 years old. This is the love of my life. Boxing is my life, my passion.... I've come to the conclusion it's over."

De La Hoya admitted the difficulty of walking away with a 39-6 record. "You always think you can try one more time, always think you don't want to let somebody down.... I was going back and forth." More important, he noted an obligation to his family and his sport. "I can make sure I can watch my kids grow up. I can make sure I stay involved [as a promoter] and help the sport of boxing." 

He referenced his battering at Pacquiao's hands. "When your body doesn't respond ... it's a tough decision."

De La Hoya then thanked his wife, Millie; his business partner, Richard Schaefer; and his father, Joel Sr., who taught him to box and famously pushed him to greatness. De La Hoya choked up addressing his dad, and said, "Father, thank you for pushing me as hard as I can."

"I promise to everyone this is it, this is the end of the road for me."

-- Lance Pugmire 

Oscar De La Hoya retires from professional boxing

Oscar De La Hoya announced his retirement from professional boxing during a press conference this afternoon outside of L.A. Live in downtown.

"When I can't compete at my highest level, it's not fair -- to me, my fans," De La Hoya said.

De La Hoya lost two of his last three fights, including a Dec. 6 bout against Manny Pacquiao. The East Los Angeles native posted a 39-6 career record with 30 knockouts.

Check out Lance Pugmire's story for more on De La Hoya's decision.

-- Austin Knoblauch

Photo: Oscar De La Hoya celebrates following his final career victory on May 3, 2008. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

Oscar De La Hoya to make big announcement

Oscar De La Hoya has scheduled an April 14 news conference at the Star Plaza downtown, where he will make an announcement about his future in boxing, his business partner Richard Schaefer told The Times on Monday night.

Schaefer declined to reveal what De La Hoya has decided, although the boxer was soundly beaten by Manny Pacquiao in a Dec. 6 fight and confided to former trainer Freddie Roach that his best days were over.

A source, who sought anonymity because the decision has not been made public, said the scheduled announcement would not include an opponent or date for an upcoming De La Hoya bout. And the site of his announcement, the Star Plaza, is not far from his statue at Staples Center.

When The Times last spoke with De La Hoya in February, he was 60-40 on retiring.

"I'm torn between saying, 'It's over. 'Bye. I don't have it anymore,' and knowing if I'll be able to live with that," Oscar said then. "It's a tough decision, not easy at all."

De La Hoya (38-6, 30 knockouts) has increasingly worked to build his Golden Boy Promotions empire, which includes Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez and rising star Victor Ortiz in its stable.

-- Lance Pugmire

Photo: Oscar De La Hoya speaks at a Golden Boy Productions news conference in New York on Jan. 20. Credit: Joe Corrigan/Getty Images

Oscar De La Hoya: 'I'm still confused' about retirement

Oscar De La Hoya says he is "60-40" leaning toward retirement, but has yet to "wake up ... and say, 'I've had enough.' "

In a lengthy telephone interview with The Times today from San Juan, Puerto Rico, De La Hoya (39-6, 30 knockouts) said he still retains "passion of the game, I love boxing," but is hopeful he will someday soon have a moment of epiphany when he'll know his career is over.

"I have to be true to myself, I can't lie to myself," he said.

De La Hoya is less than three months removed from his one-sided loss to Manny Pacquiao, when his corner called off the fight after the Filipino star battered a sluggish De La Hoya, now 36, for eight rounds.

"I won't take anything away from what Pacquiao accomplished, but when you're feeling like a zombie walking through the tunnel going to fight, and you can't throw a punch -- when you see an opening and can't throw a punch in there -- maybe I just turned old overnight."

De La Hoya says he still has fighters and friends telling him that reaching the 147-pound weight limit in the Pacquiao fight zapped him of his typical strength and crisp punches. One of those is Shane Mosley, and De La Hoya says a third fight against the Pomona fighter is "the most intriguing" option.

But when he associates with the public while golfing -- his handicap is down to 6 -- De La Hoya says he hears people urging his retirement: "You're still our champ, let's just play golf."

His wife, Millie, and Golden Boy Promotions business partner Richard Schaefer are also pushing him  to call it a career, De La Hoya said.

He said he has no timetable established to determine whether to retire or fight.

"I hope it's sooner rather than later," De La Hoya said. "I am 36. If I do decide to fight and wait too long, it could get dangerous."

-- Lance Pugmire

Photo: A battered Oscar De La Hoya sits in his corner before the 8th round of his December match against Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas. Credit: Jae C. Hong / Associated Press

Oscar will be calling ...

I just got off the telephone with Oscar De La Hoya's secretary, Nicole Becerra, who said the former 10-time world champion boxer will be calling here soon to talk about his future and other topics.

To be candid, I started writing his retirement story this morning, despite De La Hoya's business partner at Golden Boy Promotions, Richard Schaefer, telling me this week, "I'd have two stories ready: One that he's going to retire and another saying he'll fight again. I don't know what he's going to do."

I'm hearing De La Hoya is similarly still on the fence, but he should be calling any minute and we'll let you know what he says here at the Fabulous Forum and latimes.com/sports.

-- Lance Pugmire

Photo: Oscar De La Hoya. Credit: Joe Corrigan / Getty Images

Ricky Hatton's rejection of Pacquiao fight came down to the contract

Richard Schaefer wanted to see a signed contract from Manny Pacquiao on his fax machine Wednesday morning.

When it wasn't there, and Pacquiao's promoter told him there was no indication it was coming, he made a major decision regarding the May 2 140-pound fight between his popular British fighter Ricky Hatton and pound-for-pound No. 1 Pacquiao that would've generated millions in revenue: "The fight is off," Schaefer said.

He canceled a press tour in Great Britain that was supposed to begin next week and started discussions with Hatton about future opponents, with the fighter urging Schaefer to keep the date scheduled on May 2 while moving the location to England's Wembley Stadium.

Among Hatton's preferred list of foes: Oscar De La Hoya.

De La Hoya appeared headed for retirement after a very sluggish showing while being beaten by Pacquiao Dec. 6 in Las Vegas, but this latest development may keep him in the ring.

"I'll talk to Oscar," said Schaefer, chief executive of De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions. "I don't know what he'll do. We'll sit down and talk about it this week."

De La Hoya's in town for Saturday's Antonio Margarito-Shane Mosley welterweight title fight at Staples Center.

Hatton's other options would be the winner of next month's lightweight bout between Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan Diaz, or even a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr., who has put out feelers his retirement period will end shortly.

Meanwhile, Schaefer railed at Pacquiao for failing to sign a deal that would've been "the most lucrative fight of his career." Pacquiao two years ago was the subject of lawsuits after he backed out of a promotional contract he signed with De La Hoya after being given a briefcase of $250,000 cash at a Beverly Hills restaurant.

"I don't know what he's thinking," Schaefer said. "What a waste of time, money and effort. Am I surprised he's changed his mind? No. He did it to me two years ago. We had booked the planes, the hotels, printed the press kits for the press tour. It was all ready to go, a big production.

"Frankly, I'm disgusted at the behavior of Manny Pacquiao. He's a spoiled young kid who doesn't know how to behave."

-- Lance Pugmire   

Photo, far left: Ricky Hatton in early December. Credit: Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press

Photo, left: Manny Pacquiao, a few days after beating Oscar De La Hoya. Credit: Jay Directo / AFP/Getty Images

Ricky Hatton-Manny Pacquiao fight likely a 50-50 deal

Even though Manny Pacquiao is the hot fighter, the up-and-comer, and Ricky Hatton is the veteran who is sort of playing out the string, the financial split is likely to be 50-50 for their 140-pound boxing match in Las Vegas on May 2.

That's because, according to Pacquiao's promotor, Bob Arum of Top Rank, Hatton's huge British fan following is expected to contribute handsomely to the fight's bottom line. Hatton is promoted by Oscar De La Hoya and Richard Schaefer's Golden Boy Promotions.

"We might do a million homes on pay-per-view in England," Arum said. "You have to give Hatton some credit for what he brings to the table."

The final fight details have not been set in stone, but it will be held either at the MGM Grand or UNLV's Thomas and Mack Center.

Arum said the fight promotion is likely to begin with the two fighters doing a tour of England.

"Turns out, they are both demons in the game of darts," Arum said. "We'll have some matches over there."

-- Bill Dwyre

Photo: Ricky Hatton talks to the crowd gathered at the weigh-in for the Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao fight last month. Credit: Ethan Miller / Getty Images