Not Recognizing Canelo Alvarez, Julio Cesar Chavez: Mexico's Greatest Boxer Will Always Be Me

Canelo Alvarez (Instagram @canelo)

JAKARTA - Boxing legend Julio Cesar Chavez does not recognize the greatness of Canelo Alvarez. He said, the greatest boxer ever in Mexico will always be him.

While admitting Canelo has had a fine career, he refuses to dwell too much on his compatriot.

"It will always be me (the greatest boxer in Mexico)," said Julio Cesar Chavez in a conversation with Eduardo Lamazon quoted from Marca, Monday, March 21.

"No matter how many titles Canelo wins, he will write the story, but the best Mexican champion will always be me," continued Chavez.

"As long as I don't spoil the love and affection that Mexico has for me and wherever I go, nothing will happen.

"He can win 5, 10, or 30 fights and nothing will happen. I'm glad he keeps breaking records, he keeps making history; he gets it because nobody gives him anything for free."

After defeating Caleb Plant in a fight held in Las Vegas in early November last year, Canelo was named the first Mexican and Latin American boxer to win in four of the major boxing organizations: WBC, WBA, WBO, and IBF.

This milestone, according to the President of the World Boxing Council, Mauricio Sulaiman, makes the achievements of a native of Guadalajara, Jalisco equal to Chavez.

"In the world of sports, Canelo's achievements are as high as anyone could dream. The bet that Julio César Chávez placed on him as a boxing legend today has come true," said Sulaiman at the time.

Canelo has a record of 57 wins (39 by KO), one loss, and two draws, while Chavez has 107 wins (86 by KO), six losses, and two draws.

"Canelo forged his legacy and although every era is different, I can say that he is at the top of any boxer's list," continued Sulaiman.

"All that's left for us now is to enjoy it. I don't think anyone still dares to doubt its quality and greatness."

However, it was not only Chavez who did not agree with Solomon's statement, Juan Manuel Marquez, one of Mexico's other great boxers, also did not place Canelo at such a high level.

"Mexico boxing history is very rich, there are many figures, you can't say Canelo can be the best of all time when we've seen the best, (Julio Cesar) Chavez, for example," he said in an interview for Deplaymaker.

The boxer nicknamed "Dynamite" went further by accusing Canelo of 'justifying all means' in every fight.

"There are many fighters who have won world championships as I did and as some have done, which is to fight against the best and without putting a rehydration clause on the opponent, without spending it and without telling them you have to do that," exclaims the former Mexican champion.

Marquez was a boxer who was active from 1993 to 2014 and became one of the best in Mexican history. He is world champion in four different categories.