Canelo Alvarez questions Ryan Garcia’s dedication to boxing!
Canelo Alvarez (56-1-2, 38KOs) currently sits as the face of boxing. While it wasn’t always that way, the multi-weight Mexican world champion obtained his current status through hard work and dedication. On November 6, he’ll square off with unbeaten IBF super middleweight champion Caleb “Sweethands” Plant (21-0, 12KOs) for the right to crown boxing’s first ever undisputed super middleweight champion.
His rise throughout boxing has been accompanied with the admiration of not only fans, but also fellow world class boxers and fighters on the rise. In particular is hard-hitting lightweight contender Ryan “King Ry” Garcia (21-0, 18KOs). The Californian and Alvarez have grown a great bond. So much so that Garcia brought in Alvarez’s trainer, Eddy Reynoso, to lead him. He also would start fully training alongside Alvarez at his gym.
Ryan Garcia, blessed with tremendous hand speed and punching power, he has blown through majority of his competition thus far. However, things of late haven’t been so peachy when it comes to the unbeaten contender. Back in the summer, he would pull out of his bout with former world champion Javier Fortuna, citing a mental health issue. He caught flack for it because, not long after his withdrawal, he would post pictures of himself and a lady friend on the beach. Fast forward to earlier this month, the announcement of his withdrawal from a bout with former IBF junior lightweight champion Jo Jo Diaz would come. His reasoning was a significant injury sustained to his hand that required surgery.
RELATED: Joseph Diaz Pissed Over Fight Delay: “Ryan Garcia Is A Bitch!”
So while the latter reason may have been easier to digest, considering it was a legitimate injury, that still didn’t stop fans from questioning the true intentions of what it is Garcia truly wants from his boxing career.
CANELO QUESTIONS HIS DEDICATION!
Having worked closely with and by Garcia the last year or so, forming a legitimate personal and professional bond, Alvarez has picked up on some things that he views as possibly hindering Garcia’s growth moving forward. He told Complex magazine the following on Garcia:
“Look, Ryan has a lot of talent. But to me, in my eyes, he’s wasting a lot of time and wasting his talent. I look at him and don’t see him 100 percent dedicated and, to us, that’s a bad signal. We always remind him as a team to come to the gym, to train, and to learn because you need to be in the gym. You’re learning day-by-day, at the very minimum fighting five times a year. When I was beginning my career, I did 15 fights in one year. That’s where I was at the beginning of my career. So definitely he needs to be a little more dedicated.”
It’s clear that not only is Alvarez is concerned with what he has been seeing from Garcia, but also his team. Hearing Alvarez say that his team has to remind him to come to the gym to train and learn is quite alarming. Even going as far as to say he doesn’t see him as 100 percent dedicated is not something you want to hear anyone say, especially a guy you view as your mentor.
While Alvarez feels he’s wasting his time and talent, Garcia is still only 23 years old. He certainly has time to get things turned around. Only time will tell, however.
It’ll be interesting to see what Ryan Garcia says and how he moves once cleared to resume boxing activities.
By: Jerrell Fletcher
