De La Hoya Sued by Ex-Manager

Former welterweight champion Oscar De La Hoya has been sued for breach of contract by his former business manager, Mike Hernandez.

Hernandez, a Monterey Park auto dealer, claims in the suit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court that he is entitled to 10% of De La Hoya’s earnings for the next 4 1/2 years. The claim, he said, is based on the terms of a five-year deal he signed with De La Hoya before his dismissal late last spring.

At the time he fired Hernandez, De La Hoya said he was doing so in order to take back control of his life.

Hernandez maintains that De La Hoya promised him at the time he was let go that he would continue to be paid, but says he has not received any money since the two split up.

De La Hoya made an estimated $23 million from last month’s welterweight title fight against Felix Trinidad, a fight De La Hoya lost on a majority decision.

“Mr. Hernandez does not understand why Oscar De La Hoya has not honored the contract,” said Mark Polan, Hernandez’s attorney. “Mr. Hernandez did a lot for him.”

De La Hoya could not be reached for comment.