Oscar De La Hoya's Family Breaks Their Silence: Insider Exposé on 'The Golden Boy' and Their Complex Relationships

Jacob De La Hoya, Oscar De La Hoya, Atiana De La Hoya, and Devon De La Hoya. Courtesy of Jacob De La Hoya/Instagram

Oscar De La Hoya's eldest children, Jacob, Devon, and Atiana, speak openly about their father's absence in part 2 of his new documentary, The Golden Boy.

In 1998, the retired boxer had his two oldest sons with different women. Jacob's mother is De La Hoya's ex-girlfriend, Toni Alvarado, while Devon was born after De La Hoya had a one-night stand with Angelique McQueen. As De La Hoya's struggles with substance abuse worsened, he left Moakler for Millie Corretjer in 2000, and they moved to Puerto Rico, where they had three more children.

"I would only see him occasionally, maybe once a year," Atiana recalled in the documentary. "I remember, maybe in fourth grade, we were supposed to have dinner and then go to Color Me Mine because I loved art. I remember trying to think about what to say, like 'Should I call him dad?' We went to Color Me Mine and he painted a cheeseburger, which I kept in my room. It's probably still somewhere, to be honest."

Atiana, who shares a close relationship with her former stepfather Travis Barker, mentioned that she heard more about her dad than actually seeing him. "I think many people knew him better than I did since they followed his career. So my perception of him wasn't necessarily from our relationship, but more from what I was told about him," she explained.

Jacob recounted a familiar tale, sharing, "Around the age of 7 or 8, I believe we visited Chuck E. Cheese or a similar place before he vanished for a few years." He added, "He provided financial support and covered my education expenses. However, beyond that, he didn't fulfill the role of a parent."

Acknowledging his approach, De La Hoya confessed, "I entrusted the mothers with the responsibility of taking care of Jacob, Devon, and Atiana."

“I frequented Big Bear a few times because I knew that was where he trained. During those visits, I would come across my uncle, grandpa, dad, and Millie. They would introduce me to my half-siblings and encourage me to greet them," Jacob recounted. "Millie prioritized family unity and aimed to cultivate a relationship between everyone and their fathers. However, I couldn't help but feel a mix of pain, frustration, and sadness. My dad, not being the most expressive person, dismissed the importance of emotions. According to him, feelings were insignificant and should be quickly overcome and moved on from."

Courtesy of Atiana De La Hoya/Instagram

De La Hoya later disclosed that Corretjer had no idea about Devon's existence until she came across an article discussing her husband's two sons. "I believe she discovered Devon's existence through a gossip magazine. She was furious. Needless to say, our conversation wasn't pleasant," he admitted.

As for Devon, he expressed that his father was merely "the man on television" and someone he followed on YouTube.

Devon shared his emotional experience of hearing stories from his mom about his father's fight, where he was knocked down, leaving Devon thinking he had passed away. This situation led him to feel neglected, as if his father was raising him through a distant screen. Devon struggled with the fact that his father seemed to spend time with his other children, but not with him. Tragically, others would judge him as a privileged child due to his father being Oscar De La Hoya, assuming he had everything he could ever desire. However, Devon felt the complete opposite, stating that he had nothing. Growing up in Las Vegas, Devon gradually developed a passion for boxing, as it became a way for him to establish a connection with his father, even though his father had no knowledge of his existence. This lack of recognition left him perplexed and wondering what was preventing his father from acknowledging him.

De La Hoya attributed his lack of familiarity with Devon during their upbringing to the passage of time, stating that things became complicated. He candidly expressed, "Then I'm suddenly hit with the realization. Let me redirect my attention and concentrate on the one pursuit that brings me joy, which is being in the ring and engaging in fights." He acknowledged feeling apprehensive about confronting his past.

After 16 years, Devon — who noted his mother tried to contact De La Hoya through his team and lawyers — reached out to his dad via Instagram.

Jim Smeal/Shutterstock

"I expressed, 'Hey, now is the opportune moment. I have matured enough to comprehend. ... Let's both rise above and put an end to this.' I encountered him at the age of 16," Devon reminisced about meeting his father in a secluded area of an MGM Mexican restaurant. "He entered through the backdoor, and at that sight, I couldn't help but burst into tears. ... The mixture of emotions overwhelming me ranged from sorrow to joy - the entire spectrum. Yet, there was also anger. I had the desire to embrace him, but, at the same time, I wanted to lash out at him. However, I tightly held onto him, unwilling to let go."

De La Hoya regarded this situation as his greatest remorse. "When I laid eyes on him for the first time, I could only see the pain that I had inflicted," he expressed. "That devastated me."

Although they didn't grow up together, Jacob, Devon, and Atiana bonded after their first meeting on a plane while traveling to a fight in Texas. Atiana shared her surprise at discovering shared interests with her brother whom she had never known. Despite questioning why they were seated together on the plane for their first meeting, they later realized that they were meant to become best friends. Their connection grew stronger when they found out that their hotel rooms in Texas were adjacent to each other.

Atiana, Devon, and Jacob De La Hoya. Courtesy of Jacob De La Hoya/Instagram

Devon reminisced about the time when Jacob was also on the same trip. He recalled being in his hotel room when his brother knocked on his door. Their interaction was simple yet heartfelt, as they greeted each other and shared a warm embrace.

Jacob expressed his deep bond with both Devon and Atiana, his younger siblings. Reflecting on their experiences, he realized that they all faced similar challenges, creating a strong foundation for understanding and connection among them.

Atiana recognized that their upbringings were diverse, but they share many similarities. "What took me by surprise was how alike we are. We're essentially the same three individuals," she remarked.

Devon, who currently works at Golden Boy with De La Hoya, highlighted their constant expressions of love for one another. "We prioritize each other's well-being more than our dad does," he clarified.

Atiana and Oscar De La Hoya Courtesy of Atiana De La Hoya/Instagram

De La Hoya admitted to feeling like a "coward" and expressed a heartfelt desire for his late mother's guidance during the birth of his oldest children. He believes his mother would have reminded him that his children should be his main focus, with boxing being secondary. De La Hoya named his children Jacob, Devon, and Atiana as his "championship belts" and "gold medals."

However, Jacob, Devon, and Atiana revealed that their relationships with their father are still strained due to his struggles with alcohol. They recalled a specific incident where they had to confront their dad about an embarrassing and drunken Instagram Live stream in recent years.

“There’s no one in his life who would dare refuse him,” Atiana stated. “We are the sole individuals capable of exercising that power. ... He has sincerely sought forgiveness and expressed his firm commitment to strive for improvement. It is the most valuable request one can make.”

Oscar De La Hoya and Atiana De La Hoya Picture Perfect/Shutterstock

Atiana’s mom, Moakler, was also featured in the doc.

"He and I recently had dinner together," Moakler disclosed. "During our conversation, he sincerely apologized for humiliating and hurting me, acknowledging that I did not deserve such treatment. It felt genuine, and for a moment, it was as if I had glimpsed the return of our friendship that had been lost when he left me. However, I still believe that he is a person who is constantly growing and evolving."

You can now watch Parts 1 and 2 of The Golden Boy on Max.