By Hesiquio Balderas
During a televised show that aired in México, a mock trial was held, which involved several Mexican boxing personalities.
World Champion Ana Maria Torres, Juan Manuel Marquez and TV commentator Alfonso Morales were the judges; trainer Nacho Beristain was the prosecutor; Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and Oscar De La Hoya were witnesses and WBC president Jose Sulaiman was the accused.
Even the great Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. made a phone call to the show, and things got very heated during the program.
The issue being debated was whether or not Alvarez deserved a shot at the vacant WBC 154-pound title, which will be at stake when he faces Matthew Hatton on March 5 in Anaheim, California.
Marquez, the current lightweight champion of the world, gave his arguments and said that he was in total shock when he found out that Canelo and Hatton were fighting for the WBC belt.
"That really sucks! I am speaking as a fighter and for the fighters that are ranked. They work very hard to get in the rankings and all of a sudden this kid is the number one contender because he has the silver belt?
Come on, what about (Alfredo) Perro Angulo? What about the English guy who is ranked number four (Ryan Rhodes)? What about Vanes (Martirosyan), and now you give him Hatton who isn't even ranked in the super welterweight division. It took me a lot of years to get a title shot that is why I am speaking as a fighter"
Beristain also had some hard words for Sulaiman.
“This is total BS. Sulaiman owns the WBC, everyone knows that and I am happy to get this opportunity to say this to his face. Why don’t you help Angulo get a visa, when you have done it in the past for many fighters? You have the power to do it.
“This is ridiculous. This kid Canelo has talent but he is too green to get a title shot. He hasn’t beaten any contenders yet and Hatton? What has he done? Nothing at all. He is not even a decent fighter.”
Torres offered her point of view, which was in line with Marquez and Beristain.
"I know inside the Mexican boxing community, everyone thinks of this as a joke. Many fighters may not come up and say it, but it is true.
“I personally think he doesn’t deserve the title shot. He hasn’t fought any major opponents yet. Why a title shot? Canelo is a good prospect but he has done nothing yet.
“I totally agree with Juan and Nacho. The kid didn’t face any opponents in the rankings to become number one, and even worse Hatton hasn’t even fought at this weight class, so I think the people know about this and you can not fool them anymore"
Sulaiman basically explained the situation that most of us know and he said the request for the vacant shot came from de La Hoya, the promoter for the March 5 show.
Sulaiman claimed that the other contenders were not available and the members of the WBC voted for Hatton, ranked number six as a welterweight, to gain the ability to face Alvarez for the belt in accordance to the WBC rules.
"That is what is going on. We go by the rules and that is what the members of voted for. It is not my decision but the decision of the board of the WBC. I am disappointed that Marquez is not by the fighter's side. I am always on the fighter's side, and we want to give Canelo a chance because he is number one. The public wants it and I think Marquez is a jealous person who envies Canelo’s popularity. Juan Manuel, I am surprised that you are acting this way.”
Not hesitated to reply, Marquez cut off the long-reigning sanctioning body president in efforts to clear the air.
“I don’t envy anyone because I am on my way out,” Marquez stated. “I am a current champion who takes on anyone, and I'm a champion in three weight classes. What can I be jealous of?"
By this time the argument was really heavy. Nacho told Sulaiman that he was a joke and Marquez said that many fans agree that Canelo and Hatton didn’t deserve the fight.
Oscar De La Hoya said a few words.
"Don´t get me wrong. I am just listening and I think the WBC has done the right thing by giving Canelo and Mathew the title shot. They deserve the fight. Hatton is not a pushover, he is a tough fighter. He comes to fight and punches hard. We are acting like if Canelo is already the winner and let’s remember one thing I fought against the Matthew Hatton’s of the world, and so did you Juan Manuel.
“For example I fought against Shane Mosley who nobody knew about and he beat me. Juan Manuel, you fought against Chris John and you lost, so this is who Mathew Hatton is. He could be like Mosley and John."
A very important opinion was needed and that came from Chavez Sr., who called into the show with his thoughts.
“I think Canelo has the talent, the skills, the power and he is on his way up, but I truly believe - and I always say things the way I think - is at the moment you guys at Televisa have created a monster by way of publicity,” Chavez believes. “He is just a product of TV and that hurts the fighter, and you make people believe that he is superman and he is not. He is a good fighter who will reach his potential but he is too young now to proclaim, as Televisa does, that he is the biggest thing on Earth.”
Regarding a fight with his son Julio Jr. and Canelo, Chavez said "My son really wants the fight and if the promoters agree and come to terms we can have that fight soon."
In conclusion, Sulaiman was found guilty of providing Alvarez and Hatton with what is believed to be a gift title shot. Marquez and Torres voted guilty, while Morales casted the lone non-guilty vote.
Beristain concluded the hearing with one last parting shot towards Don Jose.
"You gave this kid the first gift with many more to come. That is the way of the WBC. Oscar, I know that you are now a promoter and I like you and know you very well, and if I were you I would do the same thing as a promoter and that is support Sulaiman," concluded Beristain in a sarcastic tone.