Mayweather and De la Hoya
Boxer Floyd Mayweather has been forced to apologise for an Instagram photo and caption that mocked former world champion and promoter Oscar de la Hoya’s substance-abuse problem.
Mayweather apologised for the picture of a sombre-looking de la Hoya which ran on his Instagram
page Monday with the headline “Meanwhile in Rehab”. The caption
underneath the picture said, “OSCAR: “I gave Canelo the wrong Blueprint I
was high.”
The 36-year-old American Mayweather
described the incident as “stupid” and claimed the photo was posted
without his knowledge. He did not go into detail about how it ended up
on his Instagram account, or who might have put it there. The photo ultimately was deleted.
“It’s unfortunate that a stupid picture
was posted to my Instagram account earlier today that was not posted by
me or authorized by me to post,” Mayweather wrote in a statement emailed
to reporters by his public relation’s firm.
“I apologise to Oscar and his family for
this posting. I wish him well and am rooting for him to win his fight
too. I also apologise to all of my followers for this ridiculous post.”
Mayweather also stressed that he had
wished Mexico’s de la Hoya well at Saturday’s post-fight news conference
after Mayweather scored a majority decision in the main event over Saul
Alvarez, who is promoted by de la Hoya.
It was just the second fight for
Mayweather since he was released from prison after serving a sentence
for assaulting the mother of his children.
Mayweather went on to say that he hopes de la Hoya recovers quickly.
But Mayweather has also previously
admonished de la Hoya’s fast-paced lifestyle and the promoter’s track
record with Golden Boy Promotions.
De la Hoya missed the Mayweather-Alvarez fight after checking himself into a treatment centre last week.
Mayweather and de la Hoya fought in 2007
in a mega world title bout that set the record as most lucrative boxing
match in history, with over $130m in generated revenues.
Mayweather won by a split decision to claim the world light middleweight title.
“Although we had our difference in the
past, I stand by him unconditionally and would never personally
disrespect him or anyone else who struggles with addiction,”
Mayweather’s statement read.
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