Saúl «Canelo» Álvarez divides more opinions than the president of his country. Some in favor and others against, their fights always represent a success in the United States. Today, his biggest challenge is called Gennady Golovkin who, in theory, had to rip his head off to please boxing fans in his first fight.
But it was not like that and a second fight between the two only seems to lead Canelo to the inevitable route of the historical idols of Mexican boxing, beyond a clear popular resistance.
Accustomed to idolizing boxing figures who sold a combative and frontal style such as Julio César Chávez, Salvador Sánchez, Erik Morales or Ruben «Puas» Olivares, a large part of the Aztec boxing membership is reluctant to consider a worthy champion to a technical and intelligent fighter like Canelo Álvarez, who is accused of being a “cold chest” and a protégé of his promoter Oscar de la Hoya.
The youngest of eight siblings raised in Jalisco, Saúl is not the only boxer in his family, but he is the most notable in a circle that also includes Ramón, Ricardo and Rigoberto Álvarez.
– Faith –
Although he has added victories against great sports figures such as Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto, Austin Trout and Erislandy Lara, he still does not achieve widespread approval in his country, which was even divided when he faced Julio César Chávez Jr. in a fight that dominated from start to finish.
“People who do not believe in me will never do it,” was one of the phrases of the Mexican boxer when referring to the large number of detractors he has, at the beginning of the week of activities prior to his duel with Golovkin.
In large part, that love-hate relationship is related to the shadow of his promoter, Oscar de la Hoya, who was also resisted by many fans during his professional days as a “pretty boy” of boxing.
Canelo is a kind of deity in Mexican boxing: he is accused of everything good and bad that happens in a ring with a Mexican flag. And his two positives for doping in February, as he was preparing for a rematch with Golovkin, didn’t help either.
His charisma makes many uncomfortable. He is very constant on his social networks, to the point that he can be seen wearing his sports cars or having fun with beautiful conquests, which include actresses like Kate del Castillo or supermodels like Shannon de Lima.
He is a boxer who even sings or cooks when he is not in a camp and that beyond flinching with disapproval he has learned to grow in the midst of adversity.
A victory over Golovkin might not convince people who disapprove of him, but it would leave them without arguments to question his greatness. AFP