Oscar de La Hoya, boxing’s former golden boy and its biggest earner in history; surprised everyone when he entered rehab three months ago. Since then, rumors and speculation on his addictions has been widely discussed. Now in a television special with Teresa Rodriguez in Univision’s ‘Aqui y Ahora,’ the six time World Champion comes clean about his demons and the biggest fight of his life.

In the candid interview De la Hoya opens up completely and talks about an alcohol addiction that began at age 9, his unfaithfulness to his wife Millie Corretjer, his recent addiction to cocaine; and how the faith of his wife and his five children saved his life.

ALCOHOLISM

“It was my secret. I felt so invincible just drinking and doing those bad things … But I also found myself crying and feeling alone. I acknowledged my addiction. I come from very good values and a good family. That monster that grew strength came from within me.”

EARLY START

“At 9 years old I started drinking. At times there are family parties. The men are with the men and the women are in the kitchen. My uncles would say, ‘let’s ask Oscar to bring us some beer,’ I’d go and open the beer, have just a taste, and they wouldn’t scold me for it. After 20 to 30 times of making that trip to the refrigerator, I was drunk.”

“My mom did scold me, hit me, but I thought it would be the last time. However, it wasn’t, and that’s how it was for many years. I came to need it. Because I was an athlete, I didn’t drink every day, only when I could and when I could hide it. And that’s how my life was for many years. There was a void that was eating at me inside. And that was the love and affection that a child needs from his mother, his father.”

“On many occasions I would cancel fights, or I would fake injury so that I wouldn’t have to fight because I was out partying. I needed it by choice. At times I would drink a tequila before a fight, and as an athlete you can’t do that. This addiction ruined me. All the while, I would hide to do these things. No one knew anything. I never did it in front of friends, not even my family, no one. It was my secret. To try to maintain a business, be a father, husband. I was sick and tired of having to keep up the lie after partying the night before with friends, only to arrive at 3 or 4 in the morning, then go run at 5, was difficult. At 23 one could do that, but by 32 I noticed a physical change as a result of alcohol.”

DRUGS

“I’m very ashamed to say, but I did fall into drug use. It happened about two years ago, and I almost died. The cocaine, the partying, my supposed friends … It was a very bad life. I didn’t want to think about my kids, my wife, my family. I just wanted to party in my addiction.”

“In 2009 I overdosed on cocaine and alcohol and wound up hospitalized. They didn’t say anything. I figured they would give me some medication and that I’d be released. I wasn’t going to tell anyone, but I couldn’t continue. I was going to end up dead, or in jail.”

REHAB

“I got out of work, called Millie at 1 in the morning, crying, with a bottle of tequila in my hand, telling her that I didn’t know why I was doing this. She told me to throw away the bottle. I came home and slept in another bedroom. The next morning, Millie was at the stairs. I approached her and said, ‘I’m done. I can’t do this anymore …’ I was tired of asking her for forgiveness all the time. I said to her ‘I’m leaving. I’m going to do this for me because I have to’ and I checked myself in.”

HIS DAYS IN A REHAB CENTER

“I remember that when I entered the center, for the first days, I didn’t want to be there. I was having second thoughts. The monster that used to wait for me at the first door to my house was talking to me again. During the first days they let you rest and give you many medications to sleep, then the process begins after three or four days. It’s a 30-day program, but I stayed an additional three weeks because I didn’t feel I was ready. I was afraid to walk out that [rehab] door. I felt so safe in the center. I don’t know what it’s like to be in heaven, but that’s how it felt to me. Everyone wanted to be your friend, truly your friend.”

INFIDELITY

“I’m super in love with her. She’s the love of my life. There’s not another woman I could ever think of and I love her with all my heart.

I don’t want to talk details but, yes, I was unfaithful, but I want to take this opportunity to say: “Please, forgive me …’ because we’re, I don’t want to say we’re fine, but Millie is a very good person and it hurts me a lot …

We separated for a time. I was coming to the house to visit my kids. We were trying to work it out for our kids. There was a point where she had her attorneys, she was ready. But she very much believes in God, in [the sanctity] of marriage, and thank God she forgave me.

I made her suffer a great deal and really, I’m very thankful that she stayed by my side. We’re both going to therapy, both individually and together, but it’s not easy because every day I have to work to show her that I want a life with her.”

SCANDAL

He says about dressing as a woman, “Yes, it was me … I’m tired of lying about it. Of lying to everyone including myself. In the photo I was under the influence of alcohol and drugs. It was the first time I did that. I now know that I need the alcohol more than the drugs, but I go involved in some very bad things.

There were women, drugs, alcohol. That’s all true. I’m remembering everything now because I think clearly, and it wasn’t even fun.

Those nights when I was drunk and on my own, I asked myself, ‘Is it really worth continuing to live?,’ and then your kids come to mind, your wife and those that love you. I’m incapable of doing something like that, but I did think about it.”

NEW LIFE

 “Now, I honestly feel as though I was born again. I’m living day by day. And I feel better than ever. I’ve abstained from drinking for 109 days and from cocaine for 110. I thank God that my mom is taking care of me. That’s how I feel. If she were alive, things would’ve never gotten to that point. She would’ve straightened me out with the famous sandal. It would’ve been a different life. Addiction is going to be the hardest fight of my life. Day and night I feel as though someone from above gave me a second chance in life, and I’m going to take care of it to be a better person. This is sort of like training for a fight that never comes.”