Former Boxing Great Oscar De La Hoya is singing a new tune, but it’s not one that Canelo Alvarez is likely to appreciate. The decorated boxing champion Oscar De La Hoya, often referred to as ‘The Golden Boy’ of boxing, is demanding that Canelo Alvarez, arguably the most thriving boxer in the world today, should face Mexican star Jaime Munguia and the unstoppable David Benavidez.
In an unprecedented turn of events, De La Hoya pulled no punches in criticising Alvarez, his former client, for what he perceives as the latter’s lack of significant fights. The former boxing champion voiced his discontent, stating, “Canelo should make the fights that matter. And that’s Jaime Munguia and David Benavidez.”
Alvarez, widely recognised as the pound-for-pound king of boxing, is not taking this criticism lying down. The 31-year-old boxer, known for his power punches and solid defensive tactics, has become one of the world’s top athletes since parting ways with De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions in 2020.
Canelo is keen to fight and to continue growing his legacy. However, he is not willing to fight against competitors who, based on his judgement, are not living up to the standards he’s set for opponents. Despite the push from De La Hoya, Canelo recently made it clear that a fight with Munguia or Benavidez does not align with his current career goals.
So why Jaime Munguia and David Benavidez? Munguia, a compelling candidate, is the former WBO Junior Middleweight Champion with an undefeated record, while Benavidez, another undefeated boxing sensation, hails from Phoenix, Arizona, and is a former two-time super-middleweight world champion with a fiery prowess in both hands.
De La Hoya, visibly impatient with what he sees as Canelo’s calculated selection of opponents, believes that fights with Munguia and Benavidez would challenge Alvarez in a way he hasn’t been in years. “Make the fights that matter. That’s it,” De La Hoya decried, indicating that these challenges could enhance the boxing scene more than Alvarez’s recent fights.
There’s no doubt that Oscar’s words add an extra layer of intrigue in the world of boxing, especially considering the he has previously managed Canelo. Nonetheless, despite De La Hoya’s viewpoint, it cannot be denied that Canelo’s record, featuring 58 victories with 38 knockouts, speaks volumes of his consistent excellence in the ring.
Evidently, the clamour for Canelo to fight Munguia and Benavidez has been ignited by De La Hoya, garnering attention across boxing communities worldwide. Whether or not Canelo will acquiesce to De La Hoya’s demands remains to be seen.
In a high-stakes world like professional boxing, every decision carries significant weight, and every fight can reshape an athlete’s trajectory. Canelo Alvarez understands this more than most. As such, he’ll keep picking his fights based on what serves his goals and solidifies his status as one of the sport’s all-time greats.
While Oscar De La Hoya believes that fights with Munguia and Benavidez will bring Canelo the respect and adulation he yearns for, Canelo seems content with the path he’s currently treading. Only the unfolding of time will reveal how these discussions and speculations interact with the reality of the boxing ring.
