At a recent press conference, the Mexican professional boxer Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, dismissed the concept of a boxing match between Internet personality Jake Paul and the legendary heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. A professional in every sense of the word, “Canelo DISMISSES Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson fight!” His words reverberated around the room eliciting nods among the boxing fraternity. Not merely an offhand criticism but a critique that underlines the distinction between trained, dedicated, pugilists and social media celebrities leveraging boxing for their popularity.
A four-division world champion, Canelo is no stranger to the boxing milieu. His voice, laden with the weight of numerous victories and defeats, reminded everyone of boxing’s identity, essence, and prestige that seems to have been glossed over by Paul’s and Tyson’s fight announcement.
Over recent years, boxing’s landscape has undeniably been altered by the booming trend of high-profile celebrity, and often, mismatched boxing matches. Online influencers like Jake Paul, are stepping into the ring, leveraging their fame to attract widespread attention. Nevertheless, for many, the motivation behind such fights is not the sport but rather the associated financial prospects and social media acclaim.
When asked about his thoughts on the forthcoming match, Canelo’s response was curt, and to the point, “I truly believe it’s a lack of respect. It’s all about money, and I don’t agree with it.”
In his stalwart dismissal, Canelo touches upon an issue that many boxing sportspeople have echoed – the sanctity and respect of the boxing ring. Through trials by fire, boxers earn the right to step into that ring, not handed to them on a silver platter. This pivot away from tradition can be viewed as a desecration of the sport’s pure principles in pursuit of financial gains.
Canelo further highlighted his disdain for celebrity boxing matches. He narrates, “It’s like a soccer player getting into the ring, it’s not his sport, you cannot just switch from playing soccer, to boxing like that.” His contention is not unfounded, considering the serious, and often permanent physical damage that can result from entering the boxing ring unprepared.
Boxing is more than virility and braggadocio; there’s a rhythm, a cadence, a finesse that requires dedicated studying and training under a seasoned mentor. It’s a dance, or rather a fight, between two fighters, matching their wit, stamina, and strength blow for blow. Hopping onto the boxing bandwagon without proper training or understanding of these mechanics, could be a ticket to a preventable catastrophe.
Even Mike Tyson, an Olympic medallist, and former undisputed world heavyweight champion, has taken the heat for accepting a fight with Jake Paul. Once the “Baddest Man on the Planet”, Tyson’s legacy seems currently tainted by the commercialism of celebrity boxing matches. His willingness to participate in such a spectacle has spurred debates on whether this move honors or denigrates the legacy of one of the greatest fighters of all time.
This polemic on the sanctity of boxing’s legacy vs modern celebrity boxing matches is growing deeper. As professional boxers like Canelo share their disapproval, it remains to be seen how this narrative would turn. What remains clear is the love and respect these professionals have for their sport and their determination to prevent its violation due to transient trends for financial gain.
As Canelo said on this matter, “I respect boxing because it’s a serious thing. Boxing isn’t a game.”
