A woman who worked as an executive for a tequila company alleged in a civil lawsuit filed Wednesday that Oscar De La Hoya sexually assaulted her on two occasions.
According to a report posted to the Los Angeles Times’ website, a former employee accused the retired boxing legend of sexually assaulting her in his hotel room while he was on a trip to visit Casa Mexico Tequila’s distillery in March 2020. She also accused the president of Golden Boy Promotions of sexually assaulting her again at De La Hoya’s home in the Los Angeles area once they returned from that trip.
De La Hoya, 49, also is a partner in Casa Mexico Tequila. The woman counter-sued the brand’s parent company, Casa Mexico Enterprises, in response to a lawsuit the company filed against her after she was terminated.
According to the woman, whose name was withheld, the first sexual assault took place when De La Hoya pulled her into his hotel room. The lawsuit states she went to De La Hoya’s hotel room because he hadn’t attended a tour of the distillery that morning and entered his room once he didn’t answer the door.
She said the second sexual assault occurred after a business dinner at a restaurant. After returning to his home, De La Hoya allegedly forcibly penetrated her with a sex toy against her will.
There is no mention in the civil lawsuit of the woman filing police reports in the United States or Mexico.
In a statement released Wednesday, De La Hoya denied any wrongdoing.
“With the 24-hour news cycle we all find ourselves in, more often than not, malicious and unjust accusations are interpreted as truth without the evidence to support their erroneous claims,” De La Hoya said in the statement. “I am confident my legal team will resolve this matter and prove my innocence.”
The woman also alleged gender discrimination, retaliation, sexual harassment and wrongful termination in her civil lawsuit against Casa Mexico Enterprises.
This marked the second time a woman has accused De La Hoya of sexual assault.
The International Boxing Hall of Fame fighter reached an undisclosed settlement in July 2001 with an 18-year-old woman who alleged De La Hoya sexually assaulted her in 1998 in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. She sought $10 million in damages in her civil lawsuit.
Authorities in Mexico investigated her claims that De La Hoya held her against her will and raped her. Charges were not filed against the six-division champion related to that incident.
De La Hoya, a 1992 Olympic gold medalist from East Los Angeles, retired after underdog Manny Pacquiao stopped him following eight one-sided rounds in a December 2008 bout at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. He has repeatedly discussed and even trained for a return to the ring, as recently as last summer, but De La Hoya has not boxed in more than 13 years.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.