Perhaps Oscar De La Hoya is just a guy who has an addictive personality.
Now that celebrity news site TMZ has revealed that the Golden Boy checked himself into a susbtance abuse rehab center somewhere in California, I think it?s fair to say that most boxing fans are rooting for him to lick this tough, persistent opponent.
Certainly, Oscar really ?manned up? by going into a facility where he tackle his drug demons.
I flashed back to when Oscar was a young superstar fighting for Bob Arum at Top Rank and the promoter interceded with officials at Caesars Palace to cut off the fighter?s gambling credit line. De La Hoya talked about his out of control casino action in the biography that Steve Springer ghosted for him.
Oscar has been on Twitter and gave a statement about his battle to TMZ.
“Like everyone, I have my flaws, and I do not want to be one of those people that is afraid to admit and address those flaws,” the 10-time world champion tells the site. “Throughout my career and my life, I have always met all challenges head-on, and this is no different. I am confident that with the support of my family and friends, I will become a stronger, healthier person.”
According to the New York Daily News, De La Hoya has amplified his situation from rehab. Advertisement
?Wherever De La Hoya is staying, he has access to his Twitter account. Over the past week, he has been posting inspirational messages that hinted at his road to recovery.
“Today I healed my pain so I can heal yours tomorrow,” he wrote on May 19. “Live today like you lived yesterday…Alive!”
The next day, he continued his introspective thinking.
“Take a deep breathe and let out all that anger that makes you hate. it really is going to be o.k.,” he wrote. “Stop finding excuses not to live. life is controlled by what you make of it and not of what it makes of you.”
De La Hoya has given his all in the ring and he carried out sport for a long, long time.
Even his worst enemies, among those who are fans and those who compete against his company in the boxing business, should be rooting for a successful outcome as to this.
Someone referred to Oscar as a tarnished Golden Boy to me earlier today.
That?s absurd because the Golden Boy never said he was not human.
Fighting his flaws is the right fight at the right time.
Day by day, let?s cheer ODLH on.
