De La Hoya, in his first interview since leaving a Malibu
rehabilitation clinic, told the Spanish-language network Univision in an
interview broadcast on Tuesday that his life was “a big mess.” “Rock bottom was
recently, within a couple of years. Just, thinking, ‘Is my life even worth it?,’”
De La Hoya said.
The 38 year-old former boxer, who won a gold medal in the
1992 Olympic games in Barcelona, said that he thought about committing suicide,
but does not “have the courage” to take his own life.
De La Hoya, a Mexican-American fighter with matinee idol
good looks, said that he has been sober for three months.
He also discussed his difficulties with wife Millie
Corretjer, a Puerto Rican-born singer with whom he has two children.
“I’ve been unfaithful to my wife,” De La Hoya told Univision.
He added that he had cheated more than once, and that he was
separated from his wife for a time.
“I don’t want to explain to her anymore that I’m doing well,
I want to show her,” he said. “It’s like they say, you have to walk the walk,
and that’s what I’m doing.” De La Hoya said he abused alcohol and cocaine, and
that he began using cocaine about two and a half years ago, about the time he
retired from boxing in 2009.
The boxer also said that before he left the rehabilitation
center in Malibu, he paid for another three weeks of treatment in case he needs
to return in the future.
“It’s the biggest fight of my life,” he said.
He described his addiction problems as a “monster,” and
compared it to the top boxers he has fought in the past.
“I’ve been up against, you name it, everybody. I can put
Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather, (Fernando) Vargas, I can put all of my
opponents in one ring and battle all of them, but this monster is going to be
the toughest fight of my life.” De La Hoya ended his career with a win-loss
record of 39-6 including 30 knockouts.
Since retiring from the ring, he has remained involved in
boxing as a promoter with his Golden Boy Promotions company.
