Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez has been a dominant force in professional boxing, securing multiple world championships across four weight divisions, from light middleweight to light heavyweight. He will undoubtedly go down as one of boxing’s all-time greats, having been regarded as the world’s top prize-fighter until recently. However, the Mexican star has faced accusations of avoiding the biggest fights.
We caught up with former British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion David Price to discuss all things Canelo and the current state of boxing.
Has Anthony Joshua Helped to Change the Course of Heavyweight Boxing?
Canelo Álvarez was recently dethroned as the world’s top prize-fighter, largely due to the influence of Saudi Arabia’s mega-money investment in boxing, culminating in Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury.
Usyk’s consecutive victories over Fury ultimately led to the Gypsy King’s retirement from professional boxing. This shift has raised the question: has heavyweight boxing once again become the crown jewel of the sport? Price believes so, crediting Saudi Arabia’s financial backing as a key factor in this transition.
“Yeah, it probably is a sign, isn’t it? I think the Saudi situation has helped because Canelo wasn’t involved until recently. It might change again, though, because Canelo demands the maximum amount of money—and rightly so. Pound-for-pound, he’s probably been the top fighter of the last ten years.
“But I think heavyweight boxing has always been the big one for fans and the media. The bigger you are, the harder you fall. There’s something more appealing about a big man getting knocked out than a smaller one. He’s just bigger, and there’s more chance of it happening at that weight.”
Heavyweight boxing has seen a resurgence in popularity, thanks to the rise of fighters like Fury, Usyk, Deontay Wilder, and Anthony Joshua. The division is known for its explosive knockouts, with fights often being decided by a single punch.
“And when you consider the fighters in the heavyweight division, Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, they both have great personalities, pretty eccentric in their own way. That all helps in selling the fights.”
Price also believes that Joshua’s 2017 victory over Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley was a crucial turning point for the division.
“It’s become a lot more competitive. Anthony Joshua played a big role in that by beating Klitschko when he did and in the fashion that he did. The heavyweight division is back where it belongs. As long as people are interested in boxing, it doesn’t matter which division is on top. That benefits every fighter, across all weight classes.”
Is Canelo Avoiding Big Fights?
Former Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez recently accused Canelo Álvarez of cherry-picking easier opponents. Marquez argued that Canelo needs to fight “good opponents” and criticised his decision to face IBF super-middleweight champion William Scull (23-0, 9 KOs) on 3rd May. However, Price disagrees, stating that Canelo has already beaten the best in the business.
“I wouldn’t say so. When you’re the top dog, you decide who you want to fight. You’ve beaten the very best to be there, and you will have fights where you dominate—they won’t all be as competitive as your Golovkins and others.
“He fought Bivol, moving up to light heavyweight to do so. You can’t question that. After a fight like that, he probably deserves one that’s a bit more of a walk in the park.
“There will always be massive fights for him. You can’t constantly face top-level opponents because it shortens your career. He’s maximising his revenue, which makes sense. I disagree with Juan Manuel Marquez—Canelo will face a top fighter again soon.”
Will Cancelled Fights Stain Canelo’s Legacy?
Lately, several of Canelo’s fights have been called off. His bout with Terence Crawford was scrapped, and his potential showdown with Jake Paul remains uncertain. The latter has accused Canelo of “ducking” him in favour of signing a lucrative deal with Riyadh Season.
Price acknowledges that boxing is unique in allowing virtually anyone to step into the ring, which fuels debates about whether social media personalities like Jake Paul are tarnishing the sport.
“There are two ways of looking at it. Boxing is the only sport where anyone can turn professional, put on gloves, get in the ring, and fight—even with no prior experience.
“But it’s also the only sport where, if you’re well-known, people will tune in simply because of human nature. They want to see a fight, to see someone potentially get knocked out or bleed. If Jake Paul challenged Roger Federer to a game of tennis, no one would care. But if they were set to fight? People would watch.”
Are Influencers Ruining Boxing or Bringing in New Fans?
The presence of social media influencers in boxing remains controversial. While Price acknowledges the frustration among purists, he also admits that influencers bring fresh eyes to the sport.
“They’ve found a gap in the market and exploited it. I can’t blame them. They’re bringing new fans to the sport who might develop an interest in boxing beyond just watching Jake Paul. More followers and more fans are ultimately a good thing.
“But it’s also frustrating to see quality fighters who’ve gone about their business the right way, with strong amateur backgrounds, working their way up through the professional ranks, yet struggling to earn a fraction of what influencers make.”
Price believes young fighters need to take note of the changing landscape, as self-promotion is now an essential part of a boxing career.
“These influencers are putting bums on seats. It should be a lesson to young fighters that a big part of being a professional boxer today is marketing yourself. Gone are the days when you could just let your fists do the talking. With social media, you need to have a bit of charisma about you.”
