Despite being among the most successful fighters of his generation, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez carries with him a constant criticism from fans: that his fights lack the drama, knockouts and brutal exchanges of punches that marked other Mexican boxing legends. Although his record speaks for itself, there are those who insist that his fights are not as exciting as they used to be.
In the run-up to his clash with the undefeated William Scull, the super middleweight champion takes a moment to set the record straight. For Canelo, the problem is not his style, but the overly defensive stance that his opponents take when they step into the ring. They are not looking for victory, he says, just to avoid punishment.
Canelo responds to criticism
Far from dodging the issue, Canelo addresses it head-on. In an interview with The Ring Magazine, he said: “For a good fight you always need two and they say that I am the one who does not give good fights. They say they are boring, but you need an opponent who also wants to fight and not just go up to survive the 12 rounds”.
With these statements, the Guadalajara fighter highlights what he considers to be a constant pattern: the lack of offensive intent on the part of his opponents. “They always blame me, they say Canelo makes boring fights, but it’s both of us,” he added. His message is clear: there can be no spectacle if the other does not take risks.
Canelo reveals why he keeps fighting
At 34 years of age, and still one of the most relevant figures in world boxing, Canelo assures that his motivation is no longer economic. After signing a multi-million dollar deal with Turki Al-Sheikh to fight in Saudi Arabia, the Mexican explained that he remains active because he still feels passion for what he does. “I could retire today and I wouldn’t need anything, but I’m still enjoying it,” he said.
Reflecting on his future, the Mexican added: “When you are questioned: ‘When will it be enough?’, if you think about it in money, it will never be enough, but you need to be honest with yourself and I don’t say it for the money, but for loving what you do. If you can do it until you’re 45 or 50 and you still enjoy it 100 percent, you keep going, as long as you have the same passion.”
With a new date in Saudi Arabia, Canelo Alvarez is preparing to face William Scull in a fight that not only represents the Mexican’s return to the ring, but also the chance to regain the IBF title. The belt completes the super middleweight collection, where he already dominates with the WBC, WBA and WBO championships.
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