BOXING
Saúl Canelo Álvarez calls out “jealous” Juan Manuel Márquez
Ahead of the Mexican’s latest fight, ‘Dinamita’ had pointed criticism in his direction for his chosen path, something that he wanted to respond to.
Saúl Canelo Álvarez will face John Ryder on May 6 at the Akron Stadium in Jalisco, in what will represent his competitive return to Mexico. This fight has generated plenty of criticism and accusations from the former Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Márquez, who considered that it did not represent a sufficient challenge for the man from Guadalajara.
Canelo under fire for Ryder choice
“I would like him to face Benavidez, who is the number one, the official challenger,” said the man known as ‘Dinamita’. “Those kinds of fights are what we want to see.
“Why get into boxing if you are going to be afraid. He is not risking much against Ryder, who is mid-level at best.”
But Canelo didn’t appear to put too much value in the words of his compatriot, referring to him as “jealous” in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine in his home country.
“Juan Manuel Márquez has always been a critic of my career,” the 32-year old said. “Out of jealousy or I don’t know why. But they are words that do not affect me and that I do not take much notice of.
“It is pitiful that a fighter like him is jealous of another Mexican and everything he is doing. He knows and cannot accept it. I don’t think we should pay much attention to people like him, who are messed up in their heads,” concluded Saúl Álvarez.
It’s worth noting that Ryder is the WBO’s mandatory opponent, but few think the 34-year-old Londoner will cause too many problems.