Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez has named Billy Joe Saunders as his most hated opponent. The Mexican boxing star, usually known for keeping his cool, made this surprising revelation in a recent interview with Dan Canobbio.
Canelo, who hails from Guadalajara, has faced off against 66 opponents in his career, losing only twice. He's fought some of the biggest names in boxing, including Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Dmitry Bivol. But when asked about his most disliked rival, Canelo didn't hesitate to point the finger at Saunders.
"Billy Joe Saunders. He was a bad person, that's why," Canelo said.
The animosity between Canelo and Saunders came to a head in 2021 when they met in the ring at AT&T; Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The stakes were high, with Canelo putting three titles on the line while Saunders brought one to the table.
Two days before the fight, tensions boiled over. The two fighters had a heated face-off at their hotel, with the energy between them reaching its peak. This confrontation set the stage for what would be an intense battle.
Come fight night, Canelo took control in the eighth round. He landed what he considers one of the most powerful punches of his career, breaking Saunders' orbital bone and ending the fight. For Canelo, it was his most satisfying victory to date.
Saunders, known for his controversial behavior and trash-talking, hasn't stepped into the ring since that loss to Canelo. It looks like he might not return to boxing at all.
Most boxers use press conferences, face-offs, and heated statements to build up their fights. They create epic stories to grab fans' attention and turn their bouts into adrenaline-fueled events. But Canelo usually prefers to stay out of controversy and keep quiet.
That's why his frank admission about Saunders stands out. It shows that even for a fighter who tries to keep his composure, some rivalries run deeper than others.
