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Saul "Canelo" Alvarez's upcoming fight against Jaime Munguia on May 4 is not just about the boxing match—it's a chapter in the ongoing saga of Alvarez's complex relationship with Oscar De La Hoya.
This Cinco de Mayo weekend showdown will be the first time Alvarez and De La Hoya have been directly involved in a fight together since Alvarez sued Golden Boy and DAZN in 2020, which marked a significant shift in Alvarez's career as a promotional free agent.
For over a decade, De La Hoya and Golden Boy played a pivotal role in shaping Alvarez's career, transforming him into a global superstar and top pay-per-view draw in the United States. However, their partnership began to unravel after Alvarez signed a lucrative deal with DAZN in 2018. After just three fights, Alvarez and De La Hoya parted ways, leading to a public falling out.
As Alvarez (60-2-2, 39 KOs) gears up to face Munguia (43-0, 34 KOs), who is co-promoted by De La Hoya, tensions between Alvarez and his former promoter are palpable. Alvarez has made it clear that he is not interested in rekindling their friendship, stating,
“I have nothing to do with him. I wish all the best for him, and that's it. But I don't want him in my life. I don't want him near me or close to me. I don't want those kinds of vibes in my life.”
Alvarez's decision to negotiate directly with Munguia's co-promoter Fernando Beltran through PBC for the fight's staging on Prime Video pay-per-view is seen as a deliberate move to distance himself from De La Hoya. Despite De La Hoya expressing a desire to maintain a working relationship with Alvarez, it seems unlikely given Alvarez's recent comments.
“I never talk s*** about [Alvarez] in his personal life. I keep it to boxing,” said De La Hoya. “That's what I know. I have every right to criticize because I have been there as a 10-time world champion in six divisions. I know what's going on inside the ring. If he wants to attack me in my personal life, then shame on him.”
In response, De La Hoya criticized Alvarez, suggesting that Alvarez's personal attacks against him are unwarranted. De La Hoya's confidence in Munguia's ability to defeat Alvarez stems from his belief that Alvarez, at age 33, is showing signs of decline.
“[Canelo is beatable] because of all the wear and tear,” said De La Hoya. “When Canelo was Munguia's age, he was a dangerous fighter. He still is, but it's like a new Ferrari versus a classic Ferrari. You can't push the classic Ferrari to the limit anymore.