In the lead-up to the highly anticipated Cinco de Mayo weekend bout, the rivalry between Canelo Alvarez and his former promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, has become as compelling as the fight itself. During the event announcement at the Beverly Hills Hotel, Alvarez, the undisputed super-middleweight champion, conspicuously omitted De La Hoya from his acknowledgments, despite thanking other key figures in the fight’s organization. This omission underscored the strained relationship between Alvarez and De La Hoya, stemming from Alvarez's departure from Golden Boy Promotions amid disputes over management and promotional decisions.
De La Hoya’s response to being sidelined was marked by a blend of humor and defiance, emphasizing his enduring presence in the boxing industry despite past conflicts. The promoter's role in orchestrating the matchup between Alvarez and Jaime Munguia, Alvarez’s former stablemate and the upcoming challenger, has added a layer of intrigue to the fight. De La Hoya expressed his determination to support Munguia fully, hinting at leveraging his extensive experience and insider knowledge to secure a victory for Munguia.
Munguia, under the guidance of renowned trainer Freddie Roach, aims to capitalize on his recent successes and the opportunity to train with a boxing legend. This fight represents a pivotal moment in Munguia’s career, offering him a chance to ascend to the top of the super-middleweight division. De La Hoya’s explicit support for Munguia underscores the high stakes and the potential for this bout to redefine power dynamics within the sport.
De La Hoya’s insistence on his integral role in the boxing world, despite the public fallout with Alvarez, reflects his confidence in overcoming professional adversities. His remarks about Alvarez’s choice of opponent and the purported avoidance of David Benavidez have stoked the fires of an already heated discourse surrounding the fight.
Image Credit: PBC