Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’s Frustration Amidst Criticism
The Mexican boxing flag fluttered between frustration and joy in Saudi Arabia following the performances of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Marco Verde at the Riyadh Season event on May 3rd.
Alvarez faced heavy criticism during and after his match against Cuban William Scull, despite regaining the undisputed super middleweight title. The fight was deemed one of the least exciting in his career.
According to Compubox, it was the fight with the fewest punches thrown in their records for 40 years, totaling just 445 – 152 from Alvarez and 293 from Scull.
“The truth is that’s why I don’t like fighting against this kind of opponent because, ultimately, it’s not me. For a good fight, you need two fighters willing to give their all,” Alvarez analyzed post-fight.
“My apologies, I wanted to give it my all, but for a good fight, you need two. For me, it was a boring fight; you know when a fighter doesn’t try to win. I knew it would be tough because he’d run,” he added.
Eddy Reynoso, Alvarez’s manager, echoed these sentiments: “If he weren’t a champion, honestly, I wouldn’t even look at him. After this fight, I don’t think anyone will want to fight him because he truly is a fighter who doesn’t aim to win, just runs and has many qualities to become a world champion again, but it will be difficult if he continues this way.”
Marco Verde’s Triumph and Future Prospects
Amidst the criticism surrounding Alvarez and Scull’s bout, there was a Mexican boxer who left the ANB Arena in Arabia Saudita smiling – Marco Verde.
Verde made his professional debut in the undercard before Alvarez’s fight, securing a dominant technical knockout victory over Michel Galvan in the first round. He had five more fights lined up for his first win.
“I’m happy; those initial fears are gone, like when you start amateur boxing. The first fight is the hardest, most frightening, but now everything changes – more fans, more people, cameras, light, and spectacle,” Verde shared.
Just months before his professional debut, Marco Verde won a silver medal for Mexico at the Paris Olympics. This achievement propelled him into professional boxing.
“I was nervous, of course, because it was my first professional fight, a new phase after so long in amateur boxing. But I knew I had done well, focusing on my fight rather than the stage or the crowd,” he recounted.
At 23, Verde joined Eddy Reynoso’s team earlier this year, though Radamés Hernández, who shaped him to the Olympic podium, remains his trainer.
Regarding his future, Verde stated: “We hope for two more fights this year and, if possible, a third, but all at our own pace, focusing on preparation and relaxation. We’re not injured; we just continue training.”
Key Questions and Answers
- What was the main issue with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’s fight against William Scull? Critics pointed out that the fight lacked excitement, with Compubox reporting it as one of the fights with the fewest punches thrown in 40 years.
- How did Saul “Canelo” Alvarez react to the criticism? Alvarez expressed his dissatisfaction, stating that he didn’t enjoy fighting against such opponents who don’t engage in a genuine exchange.
- What was Marco Verde’s outcome in his professional debut? Verde won his first professional fight by technical knockout against Michel Galvan in the first round.
- What are Marco Verde’s plans for his future in boxing? Verde aims to have two more fights this year, with the possibility of a third, focusing on preparation and relaxation.
