Saturday’s fight between Canelo Alvarez and Jaime Munguia will be the main event of the week in boxing, but Canelo’s feud with Munguia’s former promoter – and Munguia’s current promoter – Oscar De La Hoya has stolen the headlines during fight week.
On Wednesday, during the final pre-fight press conference, Canelo and De La Hoya argued, and De La Hoya said he plans to sue Alvarez for defamation.
Former Golden Boy matchmaker Robert Diaz has known both men for years and says if anyone is hoping to shake Canelo up and get him to bring furious energy to the ring, he doesn’t see that happening.
“I don’t think you can get inside Canelo’s head, honestly,” Diaz said. Fighting with Hub TV“(Oscar) got a reaction to his behavior, that’s normal, it’s Canelo, I think it would be anyone else. But Canelo is very mature. Even at a teenage age he was very mature, very cool in that respect. He reacted, but now, a few hours later, it’s gone. He can be upset, he can be furious, but he won’t take it to the ring.
The feud between Canelo and De La Hoya dates back years when the two were still working together as fighter and promoter, and even long before Alvarez officially parted ways with Golden Boy in 2020.
Diaz admitted that the case had been maturing for a long time.
“It was a jab here, a jab there,” he said. “It’s like a fight, the first few rounds are practice rounds, now it’s the eighth or ninth round, now they’re dropping bombs. Who’s going to get the KO? That’s what we all want to know.”
On the Oscar and Canelo trade at the presser
“You have to remember Oscar was an incredible fighter, an incredible world champion, he always threw punches. And with Canelo, that’s what you expect, if you go at him and he’s going to hit back. He’s a good counterpuncher. I think that’s what we saw, a little round of that. If anything, look, after the press conference, whatever you said, that’s what everyone was talking about. Not that it was intentional, but that was the talk of the town.
On how Oscar said he wouldn’t “bury the hatchet” with Canelo
“Let’s not forget how long it took to bury the hatchet (with Fernando Vargas and Ricardo Mayorga). It didn’t happen overnight. It was a process that took many years. I’m not saying it will happen, but it could happen many years later, we’re burying the hatchet. At our age? Hurry up. Holding on to the weights and fighting is more of a life, enjoy it and relax.
Canelo vs. Munguia fight
“It’s a massive fight and whenever you get two Mexican fighters – I mean, who can forget Barrera-Morales and Marquez-Vazquez. … They go down in history and people talk about them years later because they bring out the best. As a Mexican, I feel like, yes, I can lose to someone else, but I’m not going to lose to a fellow Mexican. They both came in with great pride and great honor.
“Munguia comes in at the perfect time… If it had happened a year ago, the chances would have been like that. It’s the perfect time. Jaime is undefeated, he’s experienced, he’s not going to be a deer in the headlights. He’s coming to win. That’s what’s going to make it a fight.
“You always need a good dance partner, and Canelo, unfortunately, didn’t have a good dance partner at times. … Jaime comes for a legacy, Jaime comes for a win … and that’s what’s going to make it action-packed. Jaime throws a lot of punches, but he’s got holes where he gets hit.
“I think Canelo, with his experience, doesn’t have to throw as many punches anymore. He can pick and choose, let him make mistakes, set him up for mistakes – that’s going to be the difference. It’s not just the experience. Canelo’s talent, his size, his power. Munguia can punch, but you can also shake him up.
“Tommy Hearns was one of the most electrifying fighters in boxing history. An explosive puncher, but he can always be stopped and knocked out. That won’t make Munguia any less beloved by the fans. I think he’ll come out on top after the loss and grow from this fight.
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