Conor McGregor Takes Aim at Canelo Alvarez: A War of Words

Conor McGregor criticized Canelo Álvarez on social media in early August 2024, taking aim at the boxer’s reported financial expectations for a possible bout with David Benavidez and questioning his pay-per-view appeal. The exchange was part of a broader fight-week debate: Álvarez was preparing to face Edgar Berlanga in Las Vegas on September 14, the same night UFC 306 was scheduled at the Sphere.

What McGregor said

McGregor used the insult “cornflake” and argued that Álvarez was asking too much to fight Benavidez, while also claiming the Mexican star did not generate the pay-per-view sales he deserved. The post included no figures to substantiate that sales claim. The reported $200 million figure referred to a possible Benavidez fight and was discussed amid public comments from boxing promoter Turki Alalshikh.

McGregor also predicted that UFC Noche would draw attention away from the boxing card because both events were booked for the same evening in Las Vegas. That overlap created a promotional rivalry, but it did not mean the two athletes were negotiating to fight each other.

Álvarez’s response and the fight schedule

Álvarez dismissed McGregor’s criticism and responded that McGregor “knows he’s my son.” He remained scheduled to box Berlanga, while McGregor had no bout with Álvarez announced. The pair’s exchange was verbal, and no crossover contest resulted from it.

Álvarez defeated Berlanga by unanimous decision on September 14, 2024, retaining his super-middleweight titles. UFC 306 took place that same night at Sphere. The coincidence made the earlier remarks part of a head-to-head promotional narrative, but the events were separate and neither athlete faced the other.

Sources

Sources: MMA Fighting on McGregor’s comments and UFC 306; MMA Fighting on the Benavidez negotiations; MMA Mania on Álvarez’s response; Premier Boxing Champions on Álvarez-Berlanga; video: FightHype.

Sources: premierboxingchampions.com

Tags

Boxing, Combat Sports