Mikey Garcia Called Canelo’s Fight Choices a Business
Mikey Garcia questioned Canelo Alvarez’s priorities in comments reported in March 2025, arguing that the Mexican star was increasingly choosing fights for their financial value. The former four-division champion framed Alvarez as a major business brand whose sporting achievements were already secure.
The criticism centered on the planned Scull and Crawford sequence
Alvarez was preparing to face William Scull in Riyadh on May 3. Scull held the IBF super middleweight belt, making the matchup a route back to undisputed status before a proposed September meeting with Terence Crawford.
Garcia believed that championship sequence had substantial commercial value. In his view, recovering the missing belt helped create a more lucrative attraction for the subsequent Crawford fight.
Garcia distinguished competitive ambitions from earning power
Speaking to YSM Sports Media, Garcia described Alvarez as operating like an enterprise. He argued that titles and legacy mattered less to a fighter who had already won championships across four divisions.
Garcia characterized the choices as lower-risk opportunities with large rewards. That was his assessment of Alvarez’s motivations, rather than a financial disclosure from Alvarez or his promotional partners.
The remarks acknowledged the appeal of major paydays
Garcia also said he understood why a successful veteran would keep competing when substantial money remained available. His criticism therefore included an explanation of why the approach could be attractive.
The reported figures were Garcia’s estimates, not verified contract totals. The central dispute concerned what supporters wanted from Alvarez’s opposition and how a globally marketable champion balanced those expectations with the business opportunities available late in his career.
Sources
- Boxing News 24: Garcia’s attributed YSM Sports Media comments
- Boxing247: planned Scull–Crawford sequence
