Most Disliked Boxer: Canelo Alvarez Openly Identifies Boxer He Had the Greatest Antipathy Towards throughout His Illustrious Boxing Career
Jabs Fly High Between Canelo and Saunders!
The fireworks between Canelo Alvarez and Billy Joe Saunders haven't died down, even after their 2021 showdown at the AT&T Stadium in Texas.
This pair squared off in a highly-anticipated WBO, WBA, and WBC super-middleweight unification bout. But it wasn't just the belts at stake; there was bad blood brewing between these two.
The lead-up to their fight was intense with both men getting into a heated confrontation at their hotel two days before the bout. Security had to intervene to keep them apart!
Saunders wasn't shy about taunting Canelo, claiming he had never been in the ring with a fighter with a heart like his.
"You've never been in the ring with someone like me," he said, pointing to his chest. "You've never seen anybody with this heart."
In the ring, Canelo eventually broke Saunders' spirit and his eye socket with a powerful right uppercut in the eighth round, forcing Saunders to retire on his stool.
This victory remains the most satisfying win of Canelo's 66-fight career. During a quick-fire social media interview, Canelo admitted that Saunders is his most hated rival.
"Billy Joe Saunders," he replied without hesitation. "He was a bad person, that's why."
Saunders' loss to Canelo is the only blemish on his otherwise perfect 30-1 professional record. However, he hasn't stepped into the ring since that night.
Recently, Saunders made an appearance at the British classic fight between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn. He tried to enter Eubank Jr.'s dressing room, but was held back by security. A shouting match ensued, with Saunders calling Eubank Jr.'s manager a "nobody" and threatening to "write him off in seconds."
Meanwhile, Canelo has remained active, fighting seven times since then, including a TKO win over Caleb Plant. He was stripped of his IBF strap in July 2022, but he's set to fight Scull in an undisputed unification clash on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Assuming he emerges victorious, Canelo is expected to face Terence Crawford in September.
While Saunders' taunts may have left a lasting impression, Canelo is focused on his next opponents. It remains to be seen if this former rivalry will reignite in the future.
Insight: Billy Joe Saunders and Canelo Alvarez's rivalry is rooted in their contentious 2021 super-middleweight unification fight. Saunders' confidence, Canelo's dominance, and the controversial ending of their bout have kept their rivalry alive in boxing discussions. However, Saunders' inactivity since the fight and Canelo's continued success in the ring have diluted the intensity of their animosity. (Enrichment Data: Saunders' Confident Pre-Fight Taunts and Controversial Ending, Saunders' Inactivity and Canelo's Dominance)
- Despite his inactivity, Billy Joe Saunders' heated rhetoric towards Canelo Alvarez during their 2021 fight has kept their rivalry alive in boxing discourse.
- In a recent incident, Saunders challenged the manager of Chris Eubank Jr., calling him a "nobody" and threatening to "write him off in seconds."
- Interestingly, in a video posting on social media, Saunders expressed his desire for a rematch with Canelo Alvarez, the WBC, WBA, WBO champion.
- Contrastingly, Canelo Alvarez remains focused on his upcoming fights, set to face Scull in an undisputed unification clash, and potentially Terence Crawford later in the year, hinting at an unlikely unification in sports.
