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Canelo Alvarez's fight against Edgar Berlanga on September 14 reinforced his status as one of boxing's biggest attractions, despite initial doubts and tough competition from Dana White's 'Noche UFC' event. Many questioned the value of Alvarez facing Berlanga, considering it an easier challenge, but the turnout and revenue from the event told a different story.
The Alvarez-Berlanga fight drew over 20,000 fans to the arena and brought in an impressive $17 million from ticket sales alone. With Mexican Independence Day just around the corner, the fight tapped into the long-standing Mexico vs. Puerto Rico rivalry, energizing fans from both nations to show their .
De La Hoya's remarks
Oscar De La Hoya was particularly critical of Berlanga's performance, saying the fighter seemed out of sorts and gave away every round.
He expressed frustration with modern boxing's tendency to applaud fighters for simply lasting all 12 rounds, rather than delivering a thrilling performance.
"As I predicted, T-Mobile Arena did not sell out; in fact, an entire section of the arena was curtained off. I know people who attended the fight and confirmed these facts for me," De La Hoya said.
De La Hoya also noted that Canelo hasn't scored a knockout since his 2021 bout with Caleb Plant, suggesting that financial incentives may now be the primary motivation for the Mexican champion.
"I'm from a different time in this sport when fighters went to war in the ring; we wanted to destroy our opponents... I wanted to be a legend. It's a different mentality," De La Hoya added.
He speculated that Alvarez's decision to avoid challenging opponents like David Benavidez or Dmitry Bivol could signal that the super middleweight champion is beginning to plan for a comfortable retirement.