By Dan Ambrose: Oscar De La Hoya says Canelo Alvarez doesn’t want to fight Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez because he’s one of those types of fighters that is avoided by the Mexican star.
De La Hoya feels that Canelo’s recent comment about not wanting to fight Mexican fighters is a “cop-out.”
In other words, it’s a way for the former four-division world champion Canelo (58-2-2, 39 KOs) to avoid potential losses to Zurdo Ramirez, David Benavidez, and David Morrell.
Those are the big three in terms of the Hispanic fighters that would give Canelo huge problems and potentially beat him in the same way Floyd Mayweather Jr and Dmitry Bivol did.
It’s too bad De La Hoya won’t be able to give Ramirez a shot at Canelo should he come out victorious against Bivol this Saturday night, November 5th, in their match on DAZN in Abu Dhabi.
Unfortunately, the best that De La Hoya can do for Ramirez is negotiate a fight with IBF/WBC/WBO light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev for the undisputed 175-lb championship.
“Obviously, knowing boxing and with Zurdo winning [against Dmitry Bivol], which obviously means Zurdo calling out Canelo, and Canelo saying he won’t fight Mexicans, to me, is a cop-out,” said Oscar De La Hoya to Boxing Social about Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez planning on calling out Canelo Alvarez if he beats Dmitry Bivol on Saturday night.
“As a fighter…there are fighters that fighters don’t want to fight, and Zurdo Ramirez against Canelo is a fight that Canelo doesn’t want.”
Canelo wants no part of Ramirez, Benavidez, and Morrell because if he did, he would have fought them already.
“I expect Canelo to go where the money’s at. That’s the bottom line,” said De La Hoya when asked if Canelo will re-sign with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing now that his contract with them has expired.
“I expect Canelo or any fighter to go what’s best for their career. One thing about DAZN, one thing about Eddie, and one thing about myself and other promoters is that we’re fair.
“We offer what’s right for the fighters, and it’s up to the fighters to take that particular offer at that time. Whatever the fighter desires, it’s up to them.
“I’m just a promoter trying to make it in this business. I’ve been in this business 20+ years, and I’ll be in this business for another 40,” said De La Hoya.
