LOS ANGELES • Boxing Hall of Famer Oscar De La Hoya was arrested early on Wednesday morning on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol in Pasadena, California.

He was stopped for speeding in his Land Rover on Del Mar Boulevard, at which point the investigating officer smelled an alcoholic odour in the car and administered "a series of field sobriety tests," according to ESPN.

The 43-year-old De La Hoya failed the tests and was arrested at 1.57am, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The 1992 Olympic lightweight boxing gold-medallist and 10-time professional world champion, De La Hoya, who has a reported net worth of about US$200 million (S$283 million), is no stranger to substance abuse.

He checked himself into rehabilitation in 2011 after admitting he had issues with cocaine and alcohol and had been having suicidal thoughts. Two years later, he also checked into a rehabilitation centre.

De La Hoya failed to show on Wednesday at a news conference in Los Angeles to promote his boxing promotional firm Golden Boy's HBO fight card on Saturday night.

He won titles at six different weight categories, and starred in bouts against Hall of Famers Julio Cesar Chavez Sr (twice), Pernell Whitaker and Arturo Gatti.

Other memorable fights include Felix Trinidad, Hector Camacho Sr, Bernard Hopkins, Floyd Mayweather Jr, Shane Mosley (twice) and Manny Pacquiao.

De La Hoya's career win-loss record was 39-6, with 30 knockouts.

REUTERS