Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’s recent victory over William Scull in Saudi Arabia, where he consolidated himself as the undisputed super middleweight champion, has unleashed a new wave of questioning. Despite the fact that the Mexican added the IBF title to the belts he already held, the Cuban’s performance and the dynamics of the fight did not convince either the public or several experts.
Among the harshest voices was that of legendary trainer Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain, who revived his usual criticism by pointing out that Canelo’s fights seem “fixed” and lack authenticity. “I detest the career of that… because he makes half-fixed fights and it bothers. It is a total lack for boxing and for the credibility of the people”, he said in a recently recovered interview, reviving an old debate about the legitimacy of the Mexican’s success.
“Only artists go to see those rigged fights.”
Beristain’s discontent is not limited to the level of Alvarez’s opponents, but also to the spectacle surrounding his fights, which he considers elitist and devoid of sporting essence. “Do you have any idea how much a ringside ticket costs? 15 or 20 thousand dollars a damn ticket to be in the front row… only the artists go,” he said, questioning the disconnect between boxing today and the common fan.
For the trainer who forged figures such as Juan Manuel Marquez and Ricardo “Finito” Lopez, these situations denigrate boxing and turn it into a business rather than a sport. The exorbitant cost and the low level of competition seem to him to be a damaging combination for the credibility of the ring. “I’m tired of talking about the same thing… I realize how the game is going and it makes me want to turn my stomach,” he said harshly.
A disputed legacy
Beristain has been consistent in his opinion that Canelo has built his career by facing opponents who do not demand the best from him. After the fight against Scull, considered boring and uneven by many fans, his words resurfaced as a reflection of a criticism that goes beyond a result: it questions an entire career model.
Although Alvarez continues to break records and collect belts, the shadow of doubt remains. Beristain’s blunt comments fuel the perception that, for some sectors of boxing, Canelo’s legacy is far from unquestionable, no matter how many titles he accumulates.
Read the full article here
