VIDEO | Canelo Accuses De La Hoya of Stealing From Him Almost Come to Blows
Mexican boxer Saúl "Canelo" Álvarez, super middleweight champion, accused promoter Oscar De La Hoya of stealing money from the boxers he has represented during an aggressive debate in which, in addition to exchanging insults, they were on the verge of coming to blows.
"This x&?!%#, this excuse of a person next to me, he shouldn't forget that I came to the United States already being 'Canelo'. He only profited from my name, earned money because of me," declared the four-time champion born in Guadalajara. "He only steals from his boxers," he added.
"Canelo" will defend his four world titles against Munguía, 27, whose career is promoted by De La Hoya's company, a former American boxer of Mexican descent.
"Canelo" admitted that Munguía has the capability to take away his super middleweight titles from the World Boxing Council (WBC), the World Boxing Association (WBA), the International Boxing Federation (IBF), and the World Boxing Organization (WBO). "He's powerful, he's a great fighter, but I believe I'm a strong fighter and I can defeat him. I feel better than ever and ready for this fight. I don't know how many rounds it will last, but it will be historic for Mexican boxing," he concluded.
Insults and threats
"This is a disgrace to boxing. Whoever is with him, get your lawyers involved because he's probably stealing from you, and all he's doing is trying to steal Jaime Munguía's spotlight, not promote him," he added.
De La Hoya and Álvarez had a legal dispute in September 2020 when the four-time world champion sued Golden Boy Promotions and the live streaming platform DAZN for breach of contract. Álvarez demanded $280 million in damages, considering that the promoter blocked him from fighting for several months, causing him significant financial losses.
In 2018, DAZN and Álvarez signed a contract for 11 fights over 5 years in exchange for $365 million, making him the highest-paid athlete in the world at the time.
In the end, Canelo managed to break ties with Golden Boy Promotions, but his personal dispute with De La Hoya continued. The former boxer, who won the gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, stated that Álvarez has not stopped insulting and defaming him.
"I believe I must respond to the one I helped become a star. I have respect for 'Canelo' as a boxer, but he has disrespected me in recent months. I'll make it easy for him: I've made many mistakes in my life, from which I've rehabilitated myself," he said. "Who the x&?!%# is disloyal here? The one who jumps from promoter to promoter, from contract to contract with television stations. I believe it's clear who the ungrateful one is. I never received a thank you when I got him the biggest contract of his career. Let him rot, to hell with him," De La Hoya concluded.
