Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya recently took to social media to publicly criticize Canelo Alvarez for his alleged fear of facing David Benavidez. However, De La Hoya’s anger seems misplaced as he fails to recognize the generosity of Canelo towards one of his own fighters, Jaime Munguia.
The Dodged Battle with the “Mexican Monster”
In his scathing video, De La Hoya lambasted Canelo for choosing to fight Jaime Munguia instead of Benavidez, who has been aggressively pursuing a fight with him. Instead of acknowledging the favor Canelo did for him and Munguia by agreeing to the match on May 4th, De La Hoya delivered a harsh rebuke, accusing Canelo of avoiding a showdown with Benavidez. This ungrateful response fails to appreciate the opportunity Canelo provided for Munguia.
De La Hoya’s lack of gratitude towards Canelo’s support for Munguia is concerning, especially considering the fighter’s shaky performances in the past. Without Canelo stepping in to offer Munguia a significant fight, his weaknesses would have been exposed sooner or later. De La Hoya should have been thankful for the lifeline Canelo threw to Munguia, instead of berating him for his choices.
Rather than celebrating the payday that Canelo’s match provided for Munguia, De La Hoya’s criticisms suggest a deeper resentment towards the former Golden Boy fighter. Perhaps De La Hoya’s frustration stems from Canelo’s departure from Golden Boy and subsequent success outside of their partnership. This misplaced anger clouds De La Hoya’s judgment and fails to acknowledge Canelo’s contribution to Munguia’s career.
De La Hoya’s concerns about Canelo’s reluctance to face Benavidez appear unfounded when considering the latter’s record. Benavidez’s victory resume lacks notable wins against top-tier opponents, with his best victories coming against fighters past their prime. His decision to avoid challenging David Morrell Jr. and moving up in weight to face an older opponent raises questions about his readiness for a bout with Canelo.
De La Hoya’s harsh criticism of Canelo Alvarez reflects a failure to recognize the positive impact of Canelo’s actions on Jaime Munguia’s career. Instead of focusing on past grievances or unfounded fears, De La Hoya should appreciate the opportunities that Canelo has provided for his fighters and the sport as a whole.