Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez has fired back at Juan Manuel Márquez’ criticism of his choice of opponents, describing his countryman as being “messed up” mentally.
Canelo will defend his undisputed middleweight crown against John Ryder at the Akron Stadium in Guadalajara this weekend, his first fight in his native Mexico in well over a decade.
Four weight world champion Marquez condemned Ryder as opposition for Canelo, who he lambasted for not fighting David Benavidez. ‘Dinamita‘ Marquez hung up the gloves with 56 wins from 64, and never lost a bout by stoppage.
In a recent feature with Rolling Stone, Canelo did not hold back in his response to his fellow Mexican.
“Juan Manuel Márquez has always been a critic of my career. Out of jealousy or I don’t know why. But they are words that do not affect me and that I do not take much notice of.”
“It’s pitiful that a boxer like himself envies another Mexican and everything that I’m doing, but he knows it and can accept it.”
“I don’t think we should pay much attention to people like him, who are messed up in their heads.”
Despite widespread clamouring for an all Mexican affair, a clash between Canelo and Benavidez looks unlikely to happen anytime soon, with the former set to rematch Dmitriy Bivol later in the year should he get through mandatory challenger Ryder this Saturday night.
Ryder earned his shot at the pound for pound star after winning the WBO interim world title against fellow Brit Zach Parker last November.
‘The Gorilla’ is a wide betting underdog against Canelo who is expected to win and move towards a second crack at WBA light heavyweight champion Bivol this autumn
Bivol himself overturned the bookmakers’ odds to defeat Canelo last May to keep hold of his title at 175lbs, though is now reportedly demanding that a rematch takes place at 168lbs for all four of Canelo’s straps.