This interview features spoilers for The Masked Singer Season 13, Episode 2
13 is a lucky number, and so far this season, The Masked Singer has been lucky with the talent pool they’ve brought together! After the elimination of Honey Pot revealed that Cedric the Entertainer was under the mask, the bar was set to who else was part of Group A. After a joy-filled Shrek Night, sadly, another celebrity was unmasked. This time, it was Fuzzy Peas. And let’s just say, we did not see that coming!
During week one, Fuzzy Peas dazzled the audience with his exceptional performance of “La Bamba.” Then, to celebrate the Dreamworks film, Fuzzy Peas sang “I’m a Believer.” And after that, we were all believers! Channeling Puss in Boots, the panel felt that Antonio Banderas could be inside. But that would be too obvious! With guesses ranging from John Leguizamo to George Lopez, with Cesar Millan thrown in, Fuzzy Peas was none other than boxing legend, Oscar de la Hoya! The icon of the ring had so much fun participating on The Masked Singer, and had even more fun completely stumping the panel! “It was the best time I ever had,” said the boxing star. After an incredible experience, the Golden Boy may be inspired to put out more music following his Grammy-nominated album from 2000. Plus, he shares where his passion for another sport comes from.
Oscar de la Hoya Says He Is Fuzzy Peas

COLLIDER: Fuzzy Peas is unmasked! It’s boxing legend, Oscar De La Hoya. How are you doing?
OSCAR DE LA HOYA: I’m great. I’m great. When you say Fuzzy Peas, I just, I get giddy because, I had such a blast, a good time. It was so much fun being Fuzzy Peas. My gosh, I look back at it, and it’s like, “Wow, okay, I was Fuzzy Peas. What a great character.” And yeah, I had a ball. I had a ball.
What was your reaction the first time you saw Fuzzy Peas and the costume you would be singing in?
OSCAR: First of all, when they present to you the costume, it’s so big. And it’s overwhelming, and it’s like, “Whoa, oh my god.” And then you start laughing, and it’s like, my god, this is me. Because Fuzzy Peas was like, okay, three peas, right? They all had different personalities. Like, one was mischievous, and the other was just happy and giddy, you know. The other one was like, I don’t know, confused. I don’t know. Like, that’s me! That is me. They hit it right on. They hit it right on. So it was awesome. It was fun. It was fun.
How hard had it been to keep the secret that you were Fuzzy Peas?
OSCAR: It was hard. It was difficult because once the producers tell you, “Okay, you can’t tell nobody.” It’s like, well, I’m gonna tell everybody. But no, I was actually good about it. A lot of people would ask me, okay, like, “What do you have going on right now? What’s going on? What are you doing? Can we? Can you do something later” Or this or that? And I’m thinking in my head I gotta perform. I have to be Fuzzy Peas! So it wasn’t that difficult. But I did tell my little girl. She’s 11 years old. And she kept the secret! To her credit, she kept the secret.
Good! What inspired you to join The Masked Singer?
OSCAR: Wow, I don’t think there was any inspiration. When they asked me, I asked all these questions, right? For instance, is anybody gonna know who I am? And they’re like, “No, you’re you’re literally behind the mask.” And so I obviously did my research, and I was like, “wow, I have to do this!” Because, all my life, I’ve been in the ring, you know, fighting to 1000s and 1000s of people live. And who knows how many millions are watching on TV, right? And I’ve been critiqued all my life, since I won the Olympic gold medal in 92. I was like 17 years old. And so it’s like, wait, I get to be behind the mask. I get to be myself. I can be silly. Nobody knows who I am. I’m in. Pick me, please.
You had some knockout performances. Now, as a highly trained athlete, talk to me about the training you did to perform inside of this ring.
OSCAR: Yeah, you know, I pretty much stay in shape myself, even though I’ve been retired for so many years. So that would help. My jogging in the morning. But it was more of a mental preparation. Because literally, when you put on the mask, yeah, you have to literally turn into the Fuzzy Pea. And I was, you know who I was channeling in when I was doing the Fuzzy Pea? I was channeling Puss in Boots.
There ya go!
OSCAR: I was like, “Hey how’ts it going? Hey, this is the Fuzzy Peas!” It was just the funniest thing ever. My gosh. I had a blast, man. Just to change into character and to know that nobody’s gonna know who I am. It was the best time I ever had.
Now, speaking of Puss in Boots. We did have some hilarious guesses from the panel. You stumped them!
OSCAR: Exactly! It was hilarious. I was like, wait, Pitbull? What? I don’t think I have his voice? My gosh. He’s amazing. Then when they said Antonio Banderas, and it was, my gosh, it was just fun. It was hilarious. When you watch the public, the people there, the crowd, they’re having such a good time. They’re having such a blast. And it just makes you want to be more animated. It makes you just want to have a good time and just dance. There was times where I forgot my words. Like what? Wait, wait a second. Wait, what’s next? But then again, you remind yourself, just have a blast. Have fun. Nobody’s gonna know if you make a mistake or two or here and there. Just have a good time. And that’s exactly what I did. And it turned out awesome.

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The main objective is to have fun.

Could We Get Another Album from the Artist Formally Known as Fuzzy Peas?

In the clue package. We did learn you have a Grammy nomination under your belt. Will there be any more music in the future?
OSCAR: Wow, you know what? You know what’s funny you asked that. So I was talking to my girlfriend, of how much fun I had, and it’s like, I told her, “You know what? I cut an album back in the day.” and by the way, she thinks it’s hilarious because she’s much younger than me. And so I’m thinking to myself, you know what? I actually own the master of my album. I own it, so I can do whatever I want with it. Why don’t I maybe call up Steve Aoki or somebody, and maybe do some club mixes with it, or something.
There you go!
OSCAR: You never know! Because we have some songs there that are incredible. This one producer, Diane Warren, wrote a song for me. It’s called “With These Hands.” It’s an incredible, incredible song. There’s other songs there that we didn’t release back in the day. So, yeah, maybe. Maybe I might pull up one of these DJs, and put up some dance music.
I’m here for it! Now we do know that you have a statue of yourself outside of Crypto.com Arena. If Fuzzy Peas were to get a bronze statue somewhere, where’s he gonna be?
OSCAR: Probably Las Vegas. Las Vegas Boulevard in front of the M&M store.
And we learned that you are also a big golfer. Where did that passion come from? Any favorite spots to play?
OSCAR: Oh my gosh, yes. So, we’re living in Las Vegas right now, and we played the Wynn golf course, Shadow Creek. I love going to Florida and playing. Cancun. My gosh, I’ve literally been all over the world just to play golf. I got back from Scotland to play the old course out there. I guess that’s where golf originated. So, yeah, I have such a passion for what I do, and I’m just so happy that I was able to do The Masked Singer because it was just fun. It was just fun. It took me out of my element. It took me out of my comfort zone. But I loved that feeling of just, again, entertaining. Having a good time, and just watching the people laugh. And they’re they were just having a good time. Like they couldn’t hold themselves but guess who was behind. You could see the people’s lips moving like, “Wait, that might be a professional singer. Wait, no, no, he sucks. No.” It feels hilarious. It’s so fun.
It really is such an amazing show, and it’s why it’s 13 seasons in. It is so much fun.
OSCAR: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
What’s next for you? Anything you want to share with your fans?
OSCAR: Yeah, no, I have a full-time job. Unfortunately, you know, I still dabble in the boxing business as a promoter now. So, yeah, I’m just very busy, just traveling. And we do like 50 shows a year, and we’re always trying to think outside the box and do bigger and better. So, yeah, I’m just keeping busy with that. But hey, who knows?
I’m here for it. I can’t wait. Well, congratulations, and it is an honor chatting with you.
OSCAR: Appreciate you. Thank you very much.