Four years later, Oscar De La Hoya comes clean: It WAS me in the fishnet and high heels pictures

By THOMAS DURANTE

Struggles: An emotional Oscar De La Hoya admitted battling with alcohol and cocaine, as well as cheating on his wife, in an interview with Univision

Recounting his rise to the top of the boxing world and his fall from grace in an ego-busting photo scandal, Oscar De La Hoya is confessing the truth.

Speaking about the claims of stripper Milana Dravnel, as well as his own substance abuse and infidelity, the retired boxer has bared it all.

It has been nearly four years since photos purportedly of the former champ clad in fishnets, panties and high heels were splashed online.


Feminine side: In 2007, De La Hoya was the subject of a photo scandal when a stripper who claimed he cheated on his wife with her made these images public
De La Hoya reportedly hired a team of lawyers, a PR firm and business


At the time, Mr De La Hoya’s handlers brushed off the photos as bad Photoshop jobs and his accuser as a money-grubber.

But in a tell-all interview this week, the former welterweight champ revealed: ‘It was me.’

In the interview with Univision, the former welterweight champion spilled the details of his marital, drug and alcohol problems.


Costume party: Milana Dravnel, who claimed Oscar De La Hoya cheated on his wife with her, allegedly leaked several embarrassing images on the internet


Known as 'The Golden Boy,' Mr De La Hoya became the subject of the photo scandal in 2007 when Ms Dravnel, who claimed he had cheated on his wife with her and posted the embarrassing images on the internet.

At the time, the De La Hoya camp claimed it wasn’t him in the photos and that the stripper was 'out for money.'

The Golden Boy’s legal team even brought in their own ‘photo expert,’ who said the photos were a computer-generated forgery.

His spokeswoman said of the photos: 'His head's too small and it doesn't even look like his body.'


Family man: Oscar De La Hoya poses with his wife Millie, right, and children Nina and Oscar Jr in this 2009 photo


De La Hoya reportedly hired a team of lawyers, a PR firm and business associates to discredit Ms Dravnel and goad her into retracting her story.

But in the interview with the Spanish-language network, which aired Tuesday night, the troubled pugilist revealed the truth.

'Let me to tell you, yes, yes, it was me,' he said.

TheSmokingGun.com reported that in June 2008, Ms Dravnel settled a federal lawsuit she brought against Mr De La Hoya.

Details of the settlement were never revealed as they signed confidentiality agreements, the website reported.


Kiss: Oscar De La Hoya has two daughters with Millie Coretjer, whom the retired boxer married in 2001


Warrior: In his last fight, Oscar De La Hoya, left, suffered a beating at the hands of Manny Pacquiao, right


De La Hoya retired from boxing in 2009 after a 16-year career that won him 10 world titles in six divisions.

His last match was a punishment at the hands of Manny Pacquiao, and De La Hoya's corner stopped the first after the eighth round.


Calling it quits: After 16 years in the ring and several world championships, De La Hoya retired in 2009


Oscar De La Hoya highlights



source: dailymail