Saul Alvarez adopted a new challenge in his career against Dmitry Bivol, a fight in which he will seek to hang a belt again at 175 pounds. The decision came in the midst of a turbulent context due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as a result of which various sporting bodies segregated athletes from the country ruled by Vladimir Putin. Despite this, Canelo's brawl did not undergo any changes, which led to the criticism of Don King, legendary boxing promoter.
During a talk with the Fight Hype portal, Don King was questioned about Alvarez's career. In this regard, he condemned that the Mexican decided to box on May 5 against an athlete from a country that has been invading in recent months.
“It's the worst thing Canelo can do to himself, because Canelo comes from Mexico and on May 5, when Canelo plans to fight, Mexico was fighting for his freedom. How can you celebrate freedom on May 5th? How can you fight on May 7 and condemn the attacks on freedom? You can't do that,” Julio Cesar Chavez's former promoter told the portal's microphones.
On May 5, 1862, it went down in history thanks to the conflict between Mexico and France. On that date, General Ignacio Zaragoza concentrated his troops in the state of Puebla to confront the European army that decided to invade the territory after Benito Juárez agreed to temporarily suspend the payment of the foreign debt to the Gauls, as well as with Spain and England. The attempt of Charles Ferdinand Latrille, Count of Lorencez, was unsuccessful, so the Mexicans won and repelled the rivals' attempt.
Although it is not the most important holiday in the calendar within Mexico, migration flows and the cultural contribution that compatriots have undertaken in the United States have made Cinco de Mayo one of the most significant dates for Mexicans in the country of stars and stripes. The importance of the date also transcended boxing, making it one of the stars for the best billboards starring national fighters.
In this regard, Don King hinted that Alvarez should rethink his intention to face Dmitry Bivol and override the historical significance of the event over the economic interest derived from the function. He even mentioned iconic characters in the country's social struggle such as Emiliano Zapata and Francisco Villa, even though both participated in the years of the Mexican Revolution.
“It's the worst thing he can do because Canelo can take the 35 million of the fight, but the reality is that he is hurting himself. He fights for Mexico, fights for Pancho Villa, for Emiliano Zapata, for those who fought for freedom. He can't say with one hand that he fights for freedom and with the other you collect the check,” said the character.
Another reference in the sport that called for the sanction of Dmitry Bivol was former Ukrainian heavyweight boxer Vladimir Klitschko. In an interview for the BBC, he said that “it's nothing against him or other athletes. This is Russia's policy. Every Russian representative must be sanctioned,” he condemned.
Although organizations such as the World Boxing Council (WBC) agreed not to endorse fights involving Russian and Belarusian fighters, the World Boxing Association (WBA), responsible for sanctioning the confrontation between Canelo and Bivol, only decided to exclude them from the ranking, a measure that would not affect Alvarez's rival for having forged part of his career outside that country. What you will not be allowed will be the display of your nation's national symbols at the Las Vegas, Nevada compromise.
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