• Boxing

De La Hoya had suicidal thoughts

ESPN staff
August 31, 2011
Oscar de la Hoya last fight was a defeat to Manny Pacquiao in 2008 © Getty Images
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Boxing great Oscar De La Hoya has spoken of his battle with alcohol, drug addiction and infidelity and revealed he had suicidal thoughts.

De La Hoya is one of the legends of the ring, having won Olympic gold in 1992 and claimed world titles at six different weights.

Since his retirement from the ring in 2008, he has forged a successful career as a promoter but it would appear he has made giant strides with Golden Boy Promotions despite his addiction problems.

"Rock bottom was recently," De La Hoya told Univision. "Within a couple of years, I was 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 admits to drug dependency

De La Hoya claims he has been sober for three months after undergoing treatment, while also admitting he has been unfaithful to his wife.

"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 two years and I depended more on the alcohol than the cocaine.

"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."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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