WBC Prez Has No Interest in a War of Words With Canelo

By Miguel Rivera

World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman has refused to engage Mexican superstar Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in a war of words.

BoxingScene.com reported on Tuesday that Canelo (48-1-1, 34 KOs) has no interest in the WBC being involved in a potential September fight with middleweight king Gennady "GGG" Golovkin.

Canelo also confirmed that he denied the WBC's request to be involved in the upcoming fight with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

Canelo vs. Chavez Jr., which takes place on HBO Pay-Per-View, will happen this coming Saturday night from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The contest takes place at a catch-weight of 164.5-pounds. Canelo, who holds the WBO junior middleweight title, is moving up from 155-pounds.

A few weeks ago,Sulaiman announced that his organization created a commemorative WBC "Huichol" belt - which they planned to present to the winner of this contest.

Canelo refused to accept the title and wants nothing to do with the WBC in this event.

"From the very beginning, the WBC wanted to get involved with this fight, and when we as a team said 'no, it's not going to happen, there is no WBC, it's not for a world title' - we knew that at some point something was going to come up. We spoke to Mr. Sulaiman and told him that he was not going to be involved. He then came up with this Huichol belt and I knew that he was going to use that against me in a negative way, to make me look like the bad guy - that I want nothing to do with the  Huichols," Canelo stated.

"That not true, quite the contrary. My entire attire is made by Huichols. Since I've been 14 years old, I've been friends with people from the Huichol culture. All of my fights in Nayarit, they were there. My attire is being made by them, they have been invited, there is a Huichol fighter in my gym. This was just to be done to make me look like a bad guy."

"This was done [by the WBC] with other interests, there is a company there on the belt. [The belt has] been going through a tour, conferences, exhibits at the hotels."

Sulaimán arrived to Las Vegas on Tuesday night and was caught by surprise when informed of Canelo's statements.

"When I arrived in Las Vegas, I was aware of Canelo Álvarez's statements: Canelo should concentrate on his fight and out of respect for boxing and Mexico - I do not consider it appropriate to enter into controversies that hurt the importance of this great fight between two Mexicans," Sulaiman told ESPN Deportes.

"The only thing that the Canelo has received from the WBC is friendship and unconditional support, the only intention is to promote Mexico and its culture."