News & Reviews

WORD: HarperCollins to publish Oscar De La Hoya autobiography
Edited Press Release

HarperEntertainment, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, announced it has acquired an autobiography by boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya. To be called "American Son," De La Hoya’s book will chronicle his rise as one of the most-talked about fighters in the history of boxing, a frank and touching memoir about his pursuit and achievement of the American Dream.

The pre-emptive deal for the HarperEntertainment imprint was struck by Rene Alegria. The deal was made with literary agent Luke Janklow of Janklow/Nesbit for world rights with the book to be published on May 20th of this year.

"The time is right for me to tell my story," says De La Hoya. "I’ve been through a lot, and have experienced some really amazing events in my life. But I try everyday to keep it all real and into perspective. I think the book will surprise many."

"This is a success story that, in its retelling, can serve as an inspiration for millions," says Rene Alegria of the legend’s life story. "Timely and provocative, the book is a story of an immigrant’s son, whose early life-struggles deeply forged the life he enjoys today. With sports celebrities as heavily scrutinized as they are, this book will provide readers with new insight into the private life of this very public figure."

The son of Mexican-born immigrants, Oscar De La Hoya is one of the most beloved athletes in America, and one of the greatest boxers of all time, defeating over a dozen world champions and winning six world titles and an Olympic gold medal. In American Son, he talks about the hard work and perseverance it took to rise to the top, the fights he has won and lost, and the pitfalls of stardom. A tale of grit and determination, hard work and deeply held moral values, American Son is a success story sure to inspire anyone hoping to make their own dream come true.

In American Son, De La Hoya talks about:

Money, money, money. He shows the difficulties of being the Golden Boy, a teen-ager suddenly worth millions, trying to separate the good guys from the shysters, getting ripped off by a business advisor and finally finding financial security and establishing a burgeoning business empire under the guidance of former Swiss banker Richard Schaefer.

The wild life. He details his gambling habits, his interaction with celebrities like Paris Hilton and the night he broke down crying in the midst of a party, realizing how far he had drifted from the family life he so desperately wanted.

Family. He discusses his kids, both in and out of wedlock, his womanizing, his therapy sessions and the ultimate happiness he has discovered with his beloved wife Millie and their two young children.

His roots in Mexico. He traces the migration of the Gonzalez and De La Hoya families from Tecate and Durango to the barrio of East L.A. and fondly remembers the long, lazy days he spent on periodic trips back to the old country, running barefoot in the fields and bonding with the elders.

Winning the Olympic gold medal for his deceased mother. He opens up about the heart-wrenching experience of watching her die from breast cancer, his vow to win the gold for her, his struggles to do so and the day he brought that gold to her grave.

Memorable fights. He puts the reader in the ring for his famous matches, from Julio Cesar Chavez to Felix Trinidad to Floyd Mayweather, and provides juicy, behind-the-scenes anecdotes about other matches, including the girls he snuck into his room.

American Son is the frank and touching memoir of how one of the most talked about fighters in the history of boxing overcame the odds and achieved the American Dream.

About the author:

Oscar De La Hoya is one of the most beloved athletes in America, and one of the greatest boxers of all time. Born into a boxing family De La Hoya has generated a total of almost half a billion dollars in sales alone, defeating over a dozen world champions and winning 6 world titles and an Olympic gold medal. He is the owner of Golden Boy Promotions, a boxing promotions organization, and has also formed Golden Boy Partners, a company focused on urban development in Latino communities with eight projects under construction, and has a separate partnership to develop lifestyle centers, which include everything from condominiums to malls. He divides his time between Puerto Rico and Los Angeles.

< Back to News & Reviews Home