Strange behaviors

Despite the glowing tributes, the Golden Boy isn’t such a shining star after all. A book on his life was called “American Son” and a children’s version named him “Super Oscar.” He won a gold medal at the 1992 Olympics and captured world titles in six different weight classes before retiring in the wake of a technical knockout loss to Manny Pacquiao in 2008.

It seemed like De la Hoya couldn’t do no wrong or if he did, the public immediately forgave him. He had a disarming smile and a heart-warming story to tell about his mother Cecilia passing away two years before realizing his Olympic dream and serving as his inspiration.

Los Angeles embraced him as a native icon and his statue stands outside the Staples Center with monuments of two other sports heroes Magic Johnson and Wayne Gretzky. He has released a CD that was nominated for a Grammy, visited US troops in the Middle East, starred in a TV reality series, endorsed a clothing line, appeared in commercials, donated millions to charity, bought The Ring Magazine and acquired a minority ownership in a soccer team. De la Hoya’s image was squeaky clean until his dark side was exposed.

 In 2007, scandalous pictures went around the internet showing De la Hoya cross-dressed wearing fishnet stockings, black bikini briefs and high-heeled black shoes and in compromising poses with Siberian Milana Dravnel. He vehemently denied it was him. Dravnel admitted circulating the photos but later denied the man was De la Hoya. Obviously, she had been paid off. A year later, Dravnel was back in court, this time to sue De la Hoya for slander. She dropped the suit when experts came out with findings that the photos were somewhat tampered. There were rumors that Dravnel was paid at least $20 Million to disappear.

De la Hoya recently tried to make a clean breast of things by confessing he lied about the photos. He said he was addicted to drugs and alcohol for at least two years and almost killed himself because he couldn’t get rid of the habits. De la Hoya was probably driven to a life of denial after he was stopped by Pacquiao to end his career. But his strange behavior, exemplified by the Dravnel photos, had nothing to do with losing to Pacquiao because the internet scandal happened two years before the fight. Apparently, De la Hoya has been a pervert all along.

 De la Hoya’s weakness for women is another low point. His womanizing is legendary. He has three children out of wedlock – Jacob, 13, Devon, 12, and Atiana, 12. De la Hoya has two children with Puerto Rican wife Millie Corretjer – Oscar, 5, and Nina, 3. Two of his affairs were with 1995 Miss America Shanna Moakler and Steve McQueen’s great niece Angelicque. 

After a history of lies, cheating and abominable behavior, De la Hoya now is asking for a second chance. He’s undergoing treatment for his addictions at the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, California.

 “My drug of choice was cocaine and alcohol,” said the 38-year-old De la Hoya, quoted by the National Enquirer. “I was unfaithful. I’m tired of lying to the public and lying to myself. Being honest to myself has set me free. I no longer have to feel sorry for myself. I can live an honest life. It’s never too late.”

 Floyd Mayweather, Jr., speaking like he is the symbol of righteousness, lashed out at De la Hoya for his excesses. “He’s a guy who wears drag, does drugs, drinks alcohol and commits adultery like a god,” said Mayweather in a blow way below the belt. You wonder how stable Mayweather is mentally for blurting out his attack. Remember that De la Hoya was Mayweather’s co-promoter when the Pretty Boy fought Victor Ortiz last month. Instead of stepping up to the plate and boosting De la Hoya’s morale, Mayweather stabbed his partner in the back – and in front, too.

 “Mayweather and De la Hoya have serious problems,” wrote Steve Bunce in the English newspaper The Independent. “They fought in 2007. Mayweather won a split decision and has never let De la Hoya forget. De la Hoya recently admitted that he had some personal issues after checking in to rehab. Mayweather was quick to talk, proving that he can deliver cheap shots on both sides of the ropes.”

In their fight, De la Hoya took home about P58 Million and Mayweather, $25 Million. The bout generated a record 2.4 million pay-per-view buys, accounting for the hefty paychecks of both fighters. Perhaps, Mayweather took it against the Golden Boy for earning more because in his own little mind, he likely felt he deserved the bigger share of the pie. Mayweather is so full of himself that nobody puts it past him to think that way.

 However, there is speculation that Mayweather’s verbal tirade was orchestrated and De la Hoya’s admission was similarly staged to generate public sympathy. For what? Could it be that a rematch is in the works or even a remote possibility? A comebacking De la Hoya from the Betty Ford Center should arouse public sympathy and a duel with Mayweather would be a perfect setting for a good versus evil battle. If it sold only half of the pay-per-view hits in 2007, the take would still be substantial.

 Mayweather doesn’t like to be dictated on and prefers to choose his opponents. He fights only those whom he thinks he has a more than a 50-50 chance of beating. That’s why he’s staying clear of Pacquiao for the moment. Pacquiao’s at his peak and Mayweather isn’t risking a taint in his unbeaten record. A fight against De la Hoya would be right down Mayweather’s alley.

 De la Hoya is out to regain favor with the fans while Mayweather couldn’t care less if he’s loved or hated for as long as he’s in the people’s consciousness and his record stays untainted. Whether a rematch ever materializes or not, it’s safe to say that in this modern era, De la Hoya and Mayweather stand out as two of the strangest fighters to wallow in mud.