Oscar De La Hoya, along with other critics like Dana White and Turki Alalshikh, has criticized Canelo Alvarez for allegedly avoiding challenging opponents such as David Benavidez, instead opting for less desirable matchups like his upcoming fight against Edgar Berlanga, while also taking aim at Alvarez’s attitude and business decisions.
Oscar De La Hoya is the latest to go after Canelo Alvarez. It seems like everyone has something to say about the boxing champion these days. UFC CEO Dana White, UFC star Conor McGregor, and Saudi promoter Turki Alalshikh have all taken shots at Alvarez ahead of his Sept. 14 super middleweight title fight against Edgar Berlanga.
The general theme of the criticism? Berlanga is not a desirable opponent. Critics argue that Alvarez is avoiding more difficult—and presumably more lucrative—matchups.
De La Hoya and Alvarez have had a frosty relationship since Alvarez parted ways with De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions stable in 2020. The promoter took aim at his former business partner in his latest edition of “Clap Back Thursdays” on social media.
“So it turns out, I’m not the only one that thinks Canelo is an arrogant piece of shit,” De La Hoya said. “Turki Alalshikh recently revealed that Canelo refused to meet with him in person and isn’t entertaining any deals to be done with him.”
“Why? Because he’s out-priced himself so much that the Saudis don’t even want to deal with him,” De La Hoya continued. “And it’s all because he will do anything not to fight David Benavidez.”
Look, Turki is trying to make the best fights that everybody wants to see. And Canelo continues to take the fights that nobody wants to see.”
Alvarez has won four straight fights since a failed attempt to move up to light heavyweight and claim Dmitry Bivol’s WBA title. His wins during that stretch include a trilogy bout with Gennady Golovkin, plus super middleweight championship defenses against John Ryder, Jermell Charlo, and, most recently, Jaime Munguía.
According to De La Hoya and Alalshikh, Berlanga is the latest in a line of Alvarez opponents that they don’t see as moving the needle.
“That takes me to Edgar Berlanga, who is fighting Canelo on Sept. 14,” De La Hoya said. “Now, he claims he has a whole country behind him. Edgar, bro, you’re from Brooklyn. I think I’m more Puerto Rican than you are and I only lived there for six years. Puerto Rico doesn’t claim you, bro.”
De La Hoya then echoed McGregor’s sentiment that UFC 306, which takes place at Sphere in Las Vegas, will dwarf the Canelo vs. Berlanga event.
“As I said weeks ago, this fight will not do well on Sept. 14,” De La Hoya said. “Not only because the matchup is OK, but because they’re going up against the UFC’s debut at the Sphere in Las Vegas.”
That’s a spectacle that everyone and their mother has been waiting to see since it opened up about a year ago.
“And who is funding it and making it all happen? Turki Alalshikh.” De La Hoya added with finality: “Canelo, you’re really making the wrong enemies. But you know what? F*ck you.”