“We Need to See the Great Fights”: Canelo Alvarez Hasn’t Earned the Right to Pick His Opponents, Believes Mexican Boxing Legend

“I don’t give a sh*t,” Canelo Alvarez had recently summed up the criticism surrounding him for hand-picking his opponents. But there is more to it. The Mexican champion has dodged one man in the division for years while he continued to rack up millions, fighting either big names or taking on fighters that moved the needle. You can argue whether he is in such a position to dictate his terms to sanctioning bodies or overrule the fans’ demands. The boxing world is split in two over the same, and if a fellow compatriot is to be believed, that robs them of exhilarating actions, high-octane drama, a clash of titans, or a David vs. Goliath story.

Former three-division world champion and boxing veteran Juan Manuel Marquez shed light on Alvarez’s tendency to pick up names and fight them, which doesn’t make sense to boxing fans. There is growing criticism about his next fight with Edgar Berlanga, too. So, when asked about the 34-year-old champion’s coming fight in September, Marquez candidly threw shade at the future Hall of Famer.

The ‘Dinamita’ told Fight Hub TV, “No, I think Canelo needs to fight with the number-one opponents in every division—WBO, WBA, WBC. I don’t know what happened with the associations to make the fight. We need to see the great fights.”

Marquez revealed that he would rather prefer the likes of David Benavidez to stand across from Alvarez, at 61-2-2, and to give fans a fight to remember. While the champion has dodged the fight to date, he expressed his willingness to commit if the money on the offer was right. Alvarez had declared, “If the money is right, I can fight right now. I don’t give a sh*t.” But what allows him to do it?

Canelo Alvarez and his power pull

It’s his hefty contract of $35 million per fight. Irrespective of the caliber of his opponent, he will leave home with a suitcase of money. Trainer Abel Sanchez voiced the same opinion when he specified, “As things stand right now, Canelo manages his choice of opponents well and knows he can make the same money ($35 million) no matter who he fights.”

However, the Guadalajara native boasts a stacked resume with fights where he didn’t shy away from challenge. Moving up and taking up the Dmitry Bivol fight was one such instance. It remains to be seen who he fights next and for what consideration—money, legacy, or fans’ demands.

What do you make of these comments by Juan Manuel Marquez about Canelo Alvarez? Do you believe the super middleweight champion is cherry-picking his opponents? Let us know in the comments below.