Malignaggi: Canelo Says He Won’t Fight Mexicans But He Fought Chavez Jr. – Find A Better Excuse!

Undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez has made it clear that his preference is not to fight a compatriot.

There are several favorites Alvarez could consider for his next fight, and chief among the options is a trio of boxers of Mexican descent, including light heavyweight Gilberto Ramirez, super middleweight David Benavidez and middleweight Jaime Munguia.

Álvarez (58-2-2, 39 KOs) fought exclusively in Mexico until making his United States debut in 2010. Since then, the four-division champion has faced a handful of fighters of Mexican descent and beat boxers as Alfonso Gómez in 2011, Josesito López in 2012, Alfredo Angulo in 2014 and Julio César Chávez Jr. in 2016.

Former world champion and current boxing commentator Paul Malignaggi recently argued that Alvarez’s stance not to fight a compatriot is not substantive.

“It’s a little weird, not fighting a fellow Mexican,” Malignaggi told FightHype.com. “You know better than me, but isn’t Julio César Chávez Jr. Mexican? But it sucks! So he fought him because he sucks! But when he [other] Mexicans know how to fight, won’t you fight them? You have to come up with a better excuse than that or you’re asking for that kind of criticism. If you don’t want to fight him, find another reason why you don’t want to fight him. It’s okay. Fights don’t happen all the time, and Canelo is a great fighter, he doesn’t have to fight everyone. but don’t do that [excuse] up, bro. You have Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on your record, bro!”

Following his unanimous decision win against Gennadiy Golovkin, Alvarez was asked if he had changed his position on the fight against American-born Mexican-Ecuadorian David Benavidez.

“When I say I don’t want to fight Mexicans [is] because I represent Mexico. That’s why. But I don’t care. I fight anyone. And I fought my whole life against someone. What do you think? I don’t want to fight this Mexican… Don’t disrespect me when you talk about me. I’ve faced the best out there. I have never dodged anyone.

Álvarez also took the opportunity to shoot Benavidez.

“I think this guy is talking a lot of shit,” Alvarez said. “Look what he has accomplished. Any. [He beat] one, sole champion, Anthony Dirrell. Please don’t disrespect [me]. Please guys.

Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer and television reporter. He is also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, by email at manouk[dot]collect[at]gmail.com or at www.ManoukAkopyan.com.