Hunter: Canelo needs to stop hiding behind the flag and fight GGG

By Boxing News - 05/08/2016 - Comments

Image: Hunter: Canelo needs to stop hiding behind the flag and fight GGGBy Patrick McHugh: Amir Khan’s trainer Virgil Hunter found himself in a weird situation last night in challenging WBC middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (47-1-1, 33 KOs) to stop hiding from his mandatory challenger Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (35-0, 32 KOs) and take the dangerous fight.

It was strange because Hunter found himself being opposed by HBO commentator Max Kellerman, who seemed to come to the defense of Canelo when Hunter told Canelo to stop hiding from GGG and take the fight.

“He [Khan] took the risk. He gave up everything. [There was] no concessions,” said Hunter about Khan. “It’s time for him [Canelo] to take the risk and stop hiding behind little stuff. Amir took the risk,” said Hunter.

At this point, Kellerman came to the defense of Canelo, a popular fighter with his network HBO, saying “Why is it important to you guys that Canelo take the risk against Triple G? It seems personal,” said Kellerman.

That’s interesting that Kellerman seems to be running interference for Canelo by coming to his defense when Hunter suggests that he finally step up and face Triple G. You would think that instead of Kellerman going after Hunter by making it seem like what he said was inappropriate by suggesting that Canelo fight his mandatory challenger Golovkin, he should be applauding him.

I don’t know why Kellerman would ask Hunter if it’s personal because he wants Canelo to fight Golovkin. Some boxing fans might see Kellerman’s comments and think he’s running interference for Canelo to keep him from having his feet put to the fire to get him to step up and face Golovkin. Canelo brings in big ratings for HBO, and it obviously wouldn’t be good for him to get beaten by GGG because those ratings might drop off and stay low for the remainder of his career.

Hunter then replied to Kellerman, saying “Because fighters should fight each other. Amir set the tone. We set the tone. He [Khan] took the risk. He [Canelo] has got to stop hiding behind the flag and fight Tripe G,” said Hunter.

It’s unclear what Hunter means by saying Canelo is hiding behind the flag. It could mean that he brings in huge ratings no matter who he faces that he doesn’t need to take risky fights for him to do well. There isn’t that pressure with Canelo like there is with someone like Golovkin to consistently fight good opponents.

If Canelo is able to bring in big ratings just fighting guys like Khan, Alfredo Angulo and James Kirkland, then he can just sit back and count on his fans to pay to see him fight in big numbers. Canelo doesn’t need to risk his neck in fighting Golovkin because his fans will pay to see him fight welterweights or inactive fighters like Kirkland and Angulo.

“I think it’s time for Canelo to step up to GGG, just like I stepped up to fight him,” said Khan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1zaOHALssA

Khan wants Canelo to fight GGG too. Does Kellerman think it’s personal with Khan too because he wants to see Canelo fight someone his own size? That would be sad if anyone that wants Canelo to fight Golovkin is doing it because it’s personal for them.

What happened to boxing fans wanting to see the best fighting the best? They shouldn’t be seen as having an axe to grind just because they want Canelo to fight his mandatory challenger Golovkin, who has been waiting for two years to get his title shot at the WBC belt.