This is sad, yet happy news. While Oscar De La Hoya won’t be able to see his guy Saul “Canelo” Alvarez take on Floyd Mayweather for the fight of the year, he is taking care of himself and has admitted himself into rehab. We’re wishing him the best. Details after the jump…
Via ESPN:
Oscar De La Hoya, the president of powerhouse boxing promotional company Golden Boy Promotions and a former 10-time world title winner, has returned to rehab to address his substance abuse problem.
De La Hoya announced in a statement on Tuesday that he would miss the mega fight that Golden Boy is promoting between undefeated junior middleweight titleholders Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez — the biggest fight of the year — on Saturday night at the MGM Grand because of his issues.
“Canelo Alvarez and I have big fights coming up this weekend,” De La Hoya, who has been something of a mentor to the 23-year-old Alvarez, said in the statement. “His is the ring and mine in treatment. I will not be at the fight to cheer Canelo to victory since I have voluntarily admitted myself into a treatment facility.
“I explained this to Canelo and he understood that my health and long-term recovery from my disease must come first. Thank you for your understanding. I ask for your support and privacy during this difficult time for me and my family.”
Although De La Hoya, 40, did not specify what substance he was using, he is an admitted alcoholic and has said he has abused cocaine in the past.
