What happened between Canelo and De la Hoya and why does the Mexican not compete under Golden Boy Promotions?

Tensions boiled over in Wednesday’s press conference ahead of Saturday’s super middleweight championship fight between Canelo Álvarez and fellow countryman Jaime Munguia - the first in history that two Mexican boxers have contested four world titles.

Addressing reporters in his native Spanish, Álvarez began his introductory speech from the stage in a civilized manner, “Obviously, I’ve come here to win, so I think we’re in for a great fight. We respect each other but we’re here to fight and give everything we’ve got. I hope everyone enjoys it, and it turns out to be a great fiesta for Mexico”.

Álvarez lays into ‘unscrupulous’ De la Hoya: “Motherf***er, pussy, asshole”

To everyone’s surprise, Álvarez then suddenly turned to his former promoter, Hall of Fame boxer Oscar De La Hoya sat a few meters away to his left and spat, “As for this idiot over there on my left, I hope he doesn’t forget that I was already ‘Canelo’ before I came to the United States. And that he only profited from my name. He never lost a single cent, in fact he only made money from me”. The boxer then challenged his old promoter, asking him directly: “Have you now paid [Gennadiy] Golovkin what you wanted to steal from him?”

Álvarez was referring to the lawsuit filed by Golovkin’s own company GGG Promotions against Golden Boy Promotions in March 2022, claiming it was owed at least $3 million in gate receipts and sponsorships for his middleweight championship rematch against Álvarez in September 2018.

De La Hoya was seen gesturing and answering back as Álvarez continued, “If my lawyers hadn’t stepped in, you would have stolen from me” before turning to the audience to explain: “The only thing this guy does is make a profit from boxers. If you are going to sign up with him, make sure you get a good legal team because he is stealing from you. He’s only here to take the attention from Jaime Munguia, he’s not here to promote him. In the same way, he steals the pensions of the people who work in the kitchens and other collaborators - this guy takes it all for himself”.

Doping control swipe

De La Hoya had earlier provocatively referred to two drugs tests which Álvarez failed - testing positive for clenbuterol in March 2018 which landed him with a six-month suspension. The boxer explained at the time that the banned substance must have entered his system after eating contaminated meat. “Remember when Jaime was 21 years old, volunteered to step in against GGG and Canelo failed two drug tests?” the promoter asked.

Golden Boy Promotions promoted a couple of Álvarez fights before signing him to to a multi-fight contract in January 2010 when he was a promising 20-year-old. The relationship between promoter and fighter subsequently deteriorated, and came to a definitive end when Alvarez filed a lawsuit against De La Hoya, Golden Boy and DAZN in September 2020, alleging they breached a contract signed two years previously which guaranteed payments of $35 million for each of his next 11 fights.

In November 2020, Álvarez’s manager/trainer Eddy Reynoso confirmed that a settlement has been reached for the Mexican boxer to part ways with Golden Boy Promotions, and explained on Twitter, “In my role as a manager and coach of Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, I allow myself to communicate to the boxing community and to all our fans, that starting today, November 6th, ‘Canelo’ becomes a free agent, so we are ready to continue his boxing career”.

Álvarez has competed eight times since he parted ways with Golden Boy with a record of 7-1, 3 TKO. This is the first time he has shared a stage with De la Hoya since November 2019. The Golden Boy Promotions CEO retorted that Álvarez should “The company you fought under for decades has always had one name - mine, so put some f***ing respect on it. Golden Boy built Canelo over that period” with reports that he will seek to sue the boxer for defamation. “I’m going to defend myself when somebody’s speaking negative about me,” De la Hoya said.

Álvarez grabbed his microphone and was heard replying, “Don’t lie, you’re lying” the heard De la Hoya, “Write down what you just said dickhead. Do you know how to write asshole?”