Canelo Alvarez won a unanimous decision over William Scull in Riyadh, but the fight didn't live up to expectations. The Mexican boxer secured the victory, making him the undisputed champion in the division.
Oscar De La Hoya, the Mexican-American owner of Golden Boy Promotions and one of Canelo's biggest critics, didn't hold back his thoughts on the match. He called the fight a fiasco, pointing out that Canelo seemed unable or unwilling to engage more with Scull for a better show.
De La Hoya said:
"They pay you all this money to fight a runner that we all knew was going to run, Cuban style. You chose him, and now you say you hate fighting runners."
The former champion and promoter suggested that Canelo only did what was necessary to get the undisputed champion status.
Despite the criticism, Canelo's next fight is already lined up. He'll face Terence Crawford on September 12 in Las Vegas, Nevada. TKO, a new promotional company partnered with Turki Alalshikh and UFC boss Dana White, will handle the event.
De La Hoya didn't stop at critiquing the recent fight. He continued to push for a match between Canelo and David Benavidez, a fighter many boxing analysts see as a real challenge for the champion.
"We all know who we want to see you win against. That's Benavidez. Face Benavidez, fight Benavidez. He won't run away. What's wrong with that? It's a good fight, but it's sad. You know, it also starts from the top."
Meanwhile, Scull, the former IBF champion, claimed he was the real winner of Saturday's fight. The Cuban boxer's style, which involved a lot of movement, frustrated both Canelo and many viewers.
Canelo's choice of opponents continues to draw attention. Critics argue he's selecting fighters known for their evasive styles rather than taking on more aggressive challengers like Benavidez. As the undisputed champion, all eyes will be on Canelo's next moves and whether he'll take on the tougher challenges his critics are calling for.
