Canelo Alvarez has received some harsh criticism from ex-world champion Paulie Malignaggi over his upcoming opponent.
The Mexican superstar will next face Jaime Munguia on his traditional May 4 ‘Cinco De Mayo’ date, despite David Benavidez calling for a blockbuster showdown for the undisputed titles at 168lbs.
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And former two-weight world champion Malignaggi has weighed in on the superstar’s decision to focus on his own planned path.
“It’s Canelo’s fault because he needs to do the right thing. He’s a sportsman,” Malignaggi said.
“The hamster wheel has to turn. If you jam it, you set a bad precedent for everyone else. That’s why we have a generation that hasn’t fought anybody.
“Imagine if Muhammad Ali acted like Canelo. Muhammad Ali fought everyone in their prime, and that’s why boxing became so big.
“In the 80s, boxing was all over network TV, with [strong] ratings. Why? Because in the previous generation, Ali did what Ali did.
“He didn’t win every fight, but he took on every tough opponent – the biggest risk he could find.
“George Foreman, Ken Norton, the way he did it is the way a champion does it. He was not bigger than the sport. He didn’t act that way.
“Everybody looks at him [Ali] as the greatest of all time, for multiple reasons. You have a responsibility when you’re at that level. It’s not, ‘You’re at that level, take advantage of it.’”
Ali is considered arguably the greatest boxer of all-time having left a legacy of brilliance inside and outside of the ring, touching gloves with his fellow greats regularly in his career.
It is likely no-one will reach his legacy ever in the sport, but Canelo is making his own strides to go down in the history books.
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The 33-year-old is still fighting some truly fierce competitors, but is not keen on the fight with Benavidez – insisting he would need to be paid in excess of $150million [£120m].
His potential rival’s team indicated a $55m [£44m] offer had been tabled to the 168lbs champion, but Canelo’s trainer Eddy Reynoso denied the claim.
Alvarez has been linked with a whole host of other leading names including Terence Crawford.
‘Bud’ has piled on weight since his win over Errol Spence Jr, and is expected to make a switch to 160lbs in his next fight.
The American’s trainer Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre has even suggested Crawford is planning an assault on Alvarez’s 168lb crown before the end of the year.
