Boxing greats Oscar De La Hoya and Julio Cesar Chavez admitted to using drugs and alcohol prior to high-profile fights, including one against Thai legend Manny Pacquiao.
In an interview to ESPN Deportes' talk show "El Bar", the two boxers revealed that they used to constantly drink as well as abuse drugs towards the end of their careers.
De La Hoya said he drank extensively before two of his professional fights - one against Pacquiao and the other he declined to name. The Mexican-American admitted they would plan it in such a way that detection would not be possible. "We are very intelligent," De La Hoya said. "We knew how to plan to work the system."
The 39-year-old then admitted to drinking ahead of his last professional fight against Pacquiao in 2008, which he lost, because he thought he could not be beaten. "I was drinking during camp," he said. "A week before the fight with Pacquiao, I was having wine, beers, because I said he is not going to beat me.
"I have the height, the weight, he couldn't beat me."
Chavez admitted there were many fights in which he would drink during training, but refused to go into the particulars.
"The truth, during my training, it increased more and more," said Chavez, who retired in 2005. "For example, at times, I would leave spaces of a month and a half without using drugs or alcohol, but afterwards, I would shorten that time.
"Then later, it would be one month, 20 days, later 15 days. One week, four days, three days, so it would not show in the doping (tests)."
Both fighters also admitted they had undergone rehab for their problems, and said they have been clean for a few years now.
Meanwhile, De La Hoya welcomed the comeback of Ricky Hatton, who is making a return to the ring after being knocked out unconscious by Pacquiao in his last fight three years ago. "I wish Ricky all the luck in the world," he said.
"He's still only 33 and who is to say he should not do this. I support him 100 percent."
De La Hoya, however, ruled out any chances of him returning to professional boxing. "'I am in fighting shape but I'm 39 and my body would not take it," he added. "Nothing will lure me back into the ring, not even the prospect of fighting Ricky."
