By: Sean Crose
I’ve had the opportunity to chat with Canelo Alvarez on multiple occasions. He has always come across as courteous and respectful. So, the behavior of the undisputed super middleweight champion at a recent press conference to promote his upcoming fight with Jaime Munguia was quite unexpected. Although there had been tension between Canelo and his former promoter Oscar De La Hoya for some time, things escalated during Thursday’s press conference. De La Hoya’s words prompted Canelo to stand up and confront him directly, leading others to step in between the two men.
“I can’t ignore the man I used to represent,” mentioned De La Hoya, who now promotes Munguia. “I want to make it clear that I have nothing but admiration for Canelo Alvarez as a fighter… but instead of promoting this fight, he has chosen to insult me for the past few months.” However, De La Hoya didn’t stop there. He also opened up about his personal struggles, stating, “Yes, I have faced many challenges in my life. I’ve been to rehab multiple times. There were some very dark moments, and there were times when work was not my priority due to my neglected mental health.”
De La Hoya then shifted the focus back to his former protégé. “Despite everything, it’s a fact that Golden Boy made Canelo Alvarez who he is today,” he emphasized. “The company that nurtured you has always been under my name, so show some respect.” When Canelo had a chance to respond, De La Hoya interrupted, taunting him with, “You know who’s in charge here.” That’s when Canelo decided to express himself in English. “He’s disrespectful, that’s what I said,” referring to De La Hoya. “He exploits his fighters. That’s his MO. Disrespectful. ****.”
This was a long time coming. It was surprising to witness Canelo, known for his professionalism, publicly show frustration. Meanwhile, Munguia, Canelo’s upcoming opponent in Las Vegas, maintained his composure, staying out of the verbal altercation. Predictably, “Canelo” became a trending topic in the United States on X (formerly Twitter) later that Thursday. For those who think any publicity is good publicity, the press conference was undoubtedly a success.
