De La Hoya Appears, Others Disappear

Oscar De La Hoya’s news conference Friday was more noteworthy for those who weren’t in attendance than for those who were, more interesting for what wasn’t said than for what was.

With his lawyer cutting off specific questions about the fighter’s decision to fire his co-managers, Steve Nelson and Bob Mittleman, De La Hoya spoke for about 30 minutes, saying he was certain that the controversy would not tarnish his image.

“I’m not doing anything wrong here,” he said. “I’m in full control; that’s what I wanted.”

Joining him on the podium at the Biltmore Hotel were De La Hoya’s father, Joe, his brother, Joe, Jr., and his trainer, Robert Alcazar.

Missing were controversial local businessman Raynaldo T. Garza, the man who called the news conference and whom De La Hoya has said will be his business agent, and Gerardo (Jerry) Salas, a relative the co-managers believe helped instigate the separation.

Salas was seen in the lobby before the news conference, and Garza was reportedly in a suite, but neither appeared.

De La Hoya’s attorney, Michael Norris, defended Garza and Salas--jointly named in a $10-million lawsuit by the co-managers for obstructing their contract--calling them “honorable gentlemen.” Norris also termed reports that they connected the fighter to people who gave him a suitcase carrying up to $1.5 million in cash “patently false.”

Said De La Hoya: “I don’t know about any suitcase. All I know is Ray is a good marketer, and Jerry Salas, all I know is he works in the post office, delivers my mail.”

Norris also released a statement from Dr. Cathleen Godzik, a Los Angeles hand specialist who said an examination revealed a ligament tear in De La Hoya’s left hand. Norris and De La Hoya both emphasized that the injury, not confusion over the managerial change, caused the fighter to pull out of his fight Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.

Randy Gordon, executive officer of the New York State Athletic Commission, said he expects to receive De La Hoya’s full medical file over the weekend.

De La Hoya, who repeated his reasoning that Nelson and Mittleman breached his contract by failing to honor their promises, said he is glad to be rid of them.

“I feel very relieved,” De La Hoya said. “I feel like I fought Terry Norris and (Julio) Cesar Chavez and Sugar Ray (Leonard) all at the same time, and I came out the winner. I feel very relieved that I have this weight off my back.”