In an interview with Univision, Oscar de la Hoya, the former top star in boxing and now head of one of the two biggest promotional firms in the United States, opened about his stint in rehab this year due to alcohol and cocaine addictions:
"Rock bottom was recently," De La Hoya said, according to an English-language transcript provided by the network. "Within 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 says he has been sober for three months after undergoing treatment and joining Alcoholics Anonymous.
He said he was unfaithful to his wife and that they were separated for a while.
"We are obviously not talking a Tiger Woods here, but I was unfaithful," De La Hoya said.
... "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 in 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."
The 38-year-old "Golden Boy" has been out of boxing since an embarrassing and one-sided loss to Manny Pacquiao in December 2008, and recently denied rumors of a comeback attempt. It's not a new rumor, and until he's well into his forties it's one that probably won't go away, because everyone knows there's still money in an Oscar de la Hoya fight. But as I've said before, I think it's best he stay retired. He's got a great position, is helping lead a successful company that everyone said would fail when he formed it, and learning to be out of the ring and the spotlight can only be good for him. A return to the ring could potentially be the absolute last thing he needs.
Best wishes to Oscar as he goes forward. There are so many good things he can do for the sport of boxing, and I hope he keeps himself in the position to do those things.