Ortiz claims the sessions took place at De La Hoya’s training camp in Large Bear, where he was invited to aid prepare the boxing superstar for what turned out to be the last fight of his career.

“So I get to training camp in Large Bear. This is my first time talking about this, so Oscar, if I offend you, hey, the truth will set you free,” Ortiz told Fighthype.

“Boom, I say, ‘OK, that’s an effortless jab,’ he throws a straight right. Boom. I dropped him, he kneels.”

“I’m like, ‘Check this out, I’ll finish him off.’ Nacho says, ‘Why are you hitting him so difficult?’ I’m like, ‘I’m working with this guy, he’s a 10-time world champion.’ What are you talking about? Boom again. It’s falling again. He leaves the ring, takes all his stuff and leaves.”

If Ortiz’s memories are right, time may explain what happened.

By the end of 2008, De La Hoya was no longer a fighter who had won Olympic gold and won world titles in multiple weight classes. Golden Boy has already built a Hall of Fame career and has become one of boxing’s biggest crossover stars.

Many observers believe that its decline began many years earlier. De La Hoya lost a decision to Shane Mosley in 2003 and avoided a controversial unanimous decision over Felix Sturm in 2004. A fight that many fans thought was lost. Later that year, Bernard Hopkins stopped him with a body shot in the ninth round.

The weight problem could have made the situation worse. De La Hoya fought at 154 pounds and even fought at middleweight before agreeing to face Pacquiao at welterweight. According to reports, the 35-year-old penultimate to the division went on a diet instead of relying on classic weight loss at the end of the event, which made him look particularly slim at the weigh-in.

Pacquiao dominated the fight eight months after De La Hoya’s victory over Steve Forbes, forcing his corner to stop the fight after the eighth round. De La Hoya announced his departure the following year.

Meanwhile, Ortiz was a youthful fighter entering peak physical condition. In 2011, he won the WBC welterweight title after defeating Andre Berto.

Joe Joyce will return to action against the undefeated heavyweight on July 11, marking his first fight under SugarHill head coach Steward.

The 40-year-old has not fought since April 2025, when he made a sturdy showing of himself before losing a unanimous decision to Filip Hrgovic. Joyce was scheduled to face fellow veteran Dillian Whyte and then face former world title challenger Hrgovic in a grueling 10-round fight when Whyte withdrew due to injury.

before, “Juggernaut” was rejected and scored unanimously by Derek Chisorawhich followed his 10th round victory over Kash Ali in 2024.

Hoping to get back into the win column, Joyce is now preparing to face Russian Artem Suslenkov in the Murat Gassiev vs Tony Yoka fight at Moscow’s VTB Arena.

After making contact with renowned trainer Steward, who is best known for his work with Tyson Fury, Joyce said he was looking forward to meeting the 30-year-old away.

“I have spent the last year preparing, training and wanting to get back into the ring. I am excited to go to Russia and fight for the WBA continental heavyweight title on July 11.

“Thank you IBA Pro for this opportunity. My team and I are locked in and Moscow should prepare for a great performance.”

Suslenkov boasts a professional record of 14-0 (9 KO), and most notably defeated Michael Hunter by eight-round unanimous decision in an IBA Pro match in 2024.

In the heavyweight division, the 6-foot-1 inch has also previously passed Christian Hammer and has stopped fights against Agron Smakici and Artur Mann each time.

Meanwhile, Joyce clearly wants to stay in the sport even after many called for him to retire following back-to-back losses to Zhilei Zhang in 2023.

Adrien Broner has sparked fresh concern after another live broadcast showed the former four-weight world champion struggling physically while continuing to consume alcohol.

Broner is present every day on the 24/7 broadcasts with influential boxer DeenTheGreat, and alcohol is rarely off limits during broadcasts.

However, many viewers believe that drinking itself is no longer the biggest problem.

Recent broadcasts showed Broner swallowing drinks quickly, taking them from other people nearby and appearing to choke or nearly vomit on several occasions as he continued to drink.

Fresh care

Broner has never hidden his love of nightlife, and many people can drink regularly and still be in complete control.

What concerned some viewers was the increasingly perceptible physical effects of alcohol on the welterweight star in real time.

During recent shows, Broner has repeatedly appeared to be unwell after drinking alcohol, and moments where he appears to be on the verge of illness have become challenging for viewers to watch.

As WBN previously reported, Ryan Garcia publicly urged Broner to stop drinking after watching stream clips while Gervonta Davis was undergoing a health check.

The scenes have heightened concern around the boxer who once built his reputation on training camp discipline and maintaining excellent fitness for much of the year.

Another picture

Other shows featured drunken calls by Floyd Mayweather and increasingly erratic moments.

For a fighter once seen as Mayweather’s successor and one of boxing’s brightest stars, the contrast is making headlines.

What started as a live-streaming venture that Broner thought would make him a millionaire again is now generating a very different reaction.

Broner continues to insist that he is rebuilding his life and finances through streaming.

But as more and more clips spread online, more and more people seem less interested in the entertainment value and more focused on the man at the center of the action.

About the author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Since 2010, he has been interviewing world champions, breaking down international titles exclusively and reporting from the ring. His work is distributed on major platforms including Apple News. Read the full biography.