By Sean Jones: It’s become noticeable by fans that Canelo Alvarez has never shown any interest in fighting the undefeated former two-division world champion Demetrius Andrade over the years despite the two fighting in the same weight class for long periods.
The question is, why doesn’t Canelo want to fight Andrade? Is it because he’s a “terrible fighter,” or is it because he’s just too much of a threat?
Many boxing fans believe that the tall, powerful, slick southpaw Andrade (31-0, 19 KOs) possesses all the elements needed to defeat the 5’8″ Canelo and make him look silly in the process.
If you watched Canelo struggle against arguably lesser fighters than Demetrius in Billy Joe Saunders and Caleb Plant in 2021, you can’t help but derive at the likelihood that Andrade would tear him a new backside.
So basically, it looks to some like Canelo FEARS Andrade and will do anything he can to avoid facing him. If that means vacating his WBO 168-lb title, that’s a predictable move.
Andrade could potentially vacate his WBO 160-lb title and ask the World Boxing Organization to install him as Canelo’s mandatory at 168 with the organization.
Canelo should have fought Andrade YEARS ago
Alvarez should have fought Andrade as far back as 2011 when the two fought at 154 at the same time. Canelo campaigned as a light middleweight from 2011 to 2017.
From 2017 to 2019, Canelo fought at middleweight. For his part, Andrade has fought at middleweight since 2017, but Canelo chose not to fight him during his two years in the division. Is that accidental on Canelo’s part of a calculated move to avoid Andrade?
Andrade fought at 154 at the same time for all of those years, yet Canelo didn’t fight him.
“Allow me to make my case for Demetrius Andrade because Andrade was a titleholder at 154 pounds when Canelo was a titleholder at 154 pounds. Canelo didn’t fight him then,” said Chris Mannix on DAZN Boxing Show.
“In fact, Andrade moved up and Canelo after he fought somebody and moved back down to fight for that same title against Liam Smith [in 2o16] several years ago. So he waited for Andrade to vacate that title.
“Andrade moved up to 160 lbs [in 2017], and Canelo doesn’t fight him over several years while campaigning at 160,” said Mannix.
“Andrade has the opportunity because he’s the WBO title-holder to vacate that belt and become the mandatory for Canelo at 168 pounds. So you can make a roundabout argument that Canelo has gone out of his way NOT to fight Demetrius Andrade. You can make the argument. Look at the facts.”
Alvarez fought well known OLDER fighters
It’s excellent that Canelo has fought fighters like Gennady Golovkin, Sergey Kovalev, and Danny Jacobs, but those were all old guys past their prime by many years.
Kovalev was 36 when Canelo fought him and was no longer the best at 175.
When Canelo fought Kovalev, Artur Beterbiev was viewed as #1, and Dmitry Bivol #2. Kovalev was a distant #3. Even that position was precarious because Joe Smith Jr. was ranked high in the World Boxing Organization’s rankings at the top. He was fighting at a much higher level than the aging Russian.
“Canelo fought GGG, he fought Kovalev, and he fought guys, Danny Jacobs. He fought guys that Demetrius and those other guys probably don’t want to fight,” said Barak in explaining why Canelo shouldn’t have to fight Andrade.
“They’re mentioning Canelo at 175-lb division. Nobody at 154 or 160 is going up to the 175-lb division. Do you mean to tell me that he’s afraid of Andrade?
“Andrade is a great fighter and a great threat, but do you think Canelo has shown that he’s scared of anybody?” said Barak.
“I said I’m not calling him a ducker, but if you just look at the facts,” said Mannix. “Twice at two different weight classes, Canelo had the option and opportunity to fight Demetrius Andrade, and he didn’t do it.
“Let’s not act like David Benavidez, Jermall Charlo, or Golovkin is different, but other guys around there bring so much more to the table than Demetrius Andrade. Let’s not act like they’re overwhelmingly popular, and they have such a broader fanbase, and that they’re bigger and better options than Demetrius Andrade.
“GGG brought in a huge audience, and the fact that Canelo moved,” said AK.
“I said GGG, GGG is different, put him off to the side. I’m not done with Andrade here. Andrade would fight GGG in a heartbeat. He’s been asking for that fight at times. He would have fought Kovalev too. A lot of people want to fight Kovalev,” said Mannix.
Are business people picking Canelo’s opponents?
Sean Jones doesn’t see how Canelo picks his opponents based on business advice. If that were the case, why did he take smaller money fights against Avni Yildirim, Billy Joe Saunders, and Rocky Fielding rather than facing Benavidez or Golovkin?
Did business people tell Canelo NOT to fight Golovkin again and instead fight little-known Yildirim? If so, why?
It seems pretty apparent that Canelo has cherry-picked his opponents, aiming for the lowest common denominator in terms of their potential to beat him rather than choosing his opponents based on which of them will make the most money and provide the best entertainment value.
“No, no, no, he would not have fought Kovalev,” said AK about Andrade. “I never heard him[Demetrius] say he would go up to light heavyweight ever, and I’m not saying Demetrius doesn’t have the ability to compete with Canelo.
“I love the guy and think he can fight, and I think it’s a great match-up, but a guy can only fight a certain amount of people per year, and this is a business. It’s prize fighting.
“So, you got business people telling you that this fight makes more business sense. It can’t just be for the glory and for the legacy and to please the fans. This is a business, so I think Canelo made the right business decision.”
“I’m not saying he didn’t. I’m talking about right now,” said Mannix.
“Mannix, you’re a writer. Choose the right word,” said Sergio Mora in joining in with the pro-Canelo group teaming up on Mannix. “You said avoided or scared. No, no, no. It’s a business decision.”
“Hold on, I didn’t say none of those words,” said a steaming Mannix.”None of those words came out of my mouth.”
“You said, ‘Went out of his way,'” said Barak in repeating words that Mannix had said in describing Canelo’s ducking of Andrade.”
“Avoided. It was something along the lines of where he’s avoiding him,” said Mora. “That’s not the case. It was a business decision [for Canelo not to fight Andrade and instead fighter guys like Avni Yildirim, Rocky Fielding, and CallumSmith]. I agree with AK.
“Okay, maybe next time when people are talking, you can listen and get the words right that they actually said,” Mannix continued.
“Anyway, next time Demetrius Andrade yells at me for not advocating enough for him, I’m directing him back to this segment, this tape.”
Fans want Canelo to fight Benavidez
It’s pretty evident that Canelo wants nothing to do with the talented unbeaten former two-time WBC super middleweight champion David Benavidez (25-0, 22 KOs).
If Canelo were picking his opponents based on business decisions, he would have fought Benavidez ages ago rather than burning through the last four years fighting guys like Yildirim Fielding. Callum Smith and Caleb Plant.
The reality is that Canelo has been ducking Andrade and Benavidez, David Morrell Jr, and Gennady Golovkin.
“We’re not on his payroll. Only you are on his payroll,” said Barak.
“Apparently not because I was getting yelled at [by Demetrius],” said Mannix.
“Listen, I don’t care if he fights Canelo. I would want him to fight Canelo,” said Barak about Andrade. “I’m not arguing against Andrade. I’m saying Canelo is not ducking anyone.
“He’s going out of his way. He’s not even crossing the street. He’s not doing anything to avoid any fighters,” said Barak in failing to realize that Canelo could have fought #1 WBC David Benavidez in 2021 but instead chose his old sparring partner Avni Yildirim. Is that avoiding? It sure looks like it.
“He’s fighting the best fighters out there,” said Barak about Canelo. “I was in the hotel when you told Andrade that he hasn’t fought anybody.
“I would never say that. I know he hasn’t fought anybody compared to Canelo, but I’m not going to say because Canelo didn’t fight him that Canelo is going out of his way, that’s crazy.”
“He actually when out of his way to be a free agent in order to make all of those fights actually happen,” said AK of Canelo. “So, if anything, he’s doing the opposite of avoiding people.”
Is that why Canelo became a free agent is so that he could make the fights the fans wanted to so or did he make that move because DAZN wanted him to fight marquee opposition, and he just wasn’t willing to do that?
We know that DAZN wanted Canelo to fight Gennady Golovkin again after giving him a huge contract. Did he do that? Nope. Instead, Canelo fought guys like Rocky Fielding, Yildirim, and Billy Joe Saunders. Is that not avoidance/ducking on Canelo’s part?
“Guys, we’re talking about right now,” said Mannix. “We’re talking about who Canelo should fight next. I’m making a case for Demetrius Andrade,” said Mannix.
“He has as strong a case as Jermall Charlo has and David Benavidez does.”
“That’s a fair statement. I agree with that,” said AK.
“I’m glad we agree on that one,” said Mannix. “Let’s check what people said on the Twitter poll over at DAZN Boxing. It’s pretty close.”
The poll at DAZN Boxing asks the question:
Who should Canelo fight at 168 lbs?
- David Benavidez – 31.2%
- Gennadiy Golovkin – 27.9%
- Jermall Charlo – 27.4%
- Demetrius Andrade – 13.5%
“David Benavidez with the lead at just over 30%,” said Mannix on who Canelo should fight at 168-lbs. “Jermall Charlo and GGG coming in at 27-ish percent and Demetrius Andrade, poor Demetrius, bringing up the rear with 13%.”
“He’s on the list, at least. He made some numbers,” said AK.
