Rose Petals In Hell: Golden Boy Dearest

The picture of Joel De La Hoya in The Golden Boy changes with each admitted lie of his reprehensible son

At the beginning of his career, he was a violent man. In subsequent interviews, he wasn’t violent, but mean and verbally abusive. Now, in one of the most subtly horrifying documentaries I have ever seen, he was merely…a strict man of his times who wasn’t good with hugs and compliments? Who evolved to become better with hugs and compliments? And continues to come to terms with his life and what he’s passed on to his monstrous son?

As someone who’s followed the sport for over 35 years, do you know how infinitesimal those actions are in the ranked percentage range of bad boxing dads? Jack Quarry sent his son Jerry to fight for the heavyweight title with a broken back. Gregorio Benitez spent his son’s millions on the ponies in San Juan. Kenny Porter rewarded his son Shaun’s heroic effort against Terence Crawford with a heinous bit of performative sadism, screaming at him as if he was bailing him out of jail for a felony. And Oscar De La Hoya, who spent his life blaming his father for his rape settlements and accusations, dysfunctional marriages, and viciously inept attempts at fatherhood, now says that Joel didn’t touch him. That his mom was the one who hit him. And we are supposed to believe him now?

The attempted patricide of Joel De La Hoya is one of the many things that makes The Golden Boy so frightening. Part grift…