Shaquille O'Neal claims he went easy on Oscar De La Hoya during their 2009 boxing match.

The five-round fight, which was filmed for the first season of the reality show "Shaq Vs.," saw the 5-foot-10 De La Hoya defeat the 7-foot-1 O'Neal by unanimous decision. But, in an interview with TMZ Sports, O'Neal explained he didn't want to hurt De La Hoya.

"I held back, because he's my friend," O'Neal said.

O'Neal then suggested the cameraman watch his fight against boxing legend "Sugar" Shane Mosley, where he "turned it up a little."