Paulie Malignaggi has slammed Canelo Alvarez for “taking advantage of the public” ahead of his showdown against Edgar Berlanga on Saturday.
Canelo defends his three super middleweight world titles against Berlanga at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday.
The fight is being broadcast on both Amazon Prime and DAZN on pay-per-view at $89.99 in the USA.
Berlanga, who competes in his first world title fight, heads in as at least a 10/1 underdog to dethrone the four-weight world champion and Malignaggi believes the fight is too expensive given the perceived lack of competitiveness.
“It’s a joke,” the 43-year-old told CanadaCasino.
“It’s absolutely a joke that you can make people pay a pay-per-view price for this kind of crap.
“And it’s not a knock on Edgar, you want to get chosen for this opportunity.
“It’s big money, but honestly, man– you [Canelo] are the undisputed super middleweight champion of the world and you’ve been outright ducking your best contenders for years.”
Alvarez has been criticised for taking arguably a step-down in opposition since losing to Dmitry Bivol in a challenge for the WBA light heavyweight title in May 2022.
The 34-year-old has been the distance in four victories since and has not recorded a stoppage since halting Caleb Plant to become undisputed super middleweight champion in 2021.
The Mexican superstar has been dismissive of a highly-anticipated showdown with David Benavidez and former world champion, Malignaggi feels he is on a retirement tour.
“I expect Canelo to keep doing what he’s been doing: taking advantage of the public,” he added.
“I don’t see him fighting anyone who really has a chance to beat him.
“And I normally wouldn’t have a problem with that – Chávez Sr. went on a retirement tour at the end of his career – but at least he respected the world championships and fought the best while he had them.
“And then, when he got beat for the world championships, he went on his retirement tour. I don’t have a problem with that. That’s respecting the sport first.
“That’s why Chávez is a legend and will always be a legend.
“But Canelo is taking advantage of things—he’s got the belt hostage, but he’s trying to go on a retirement tour where he avoids the best fighters consistently.
“He’s consistently doing that. And he’s gonna probably continue.
“There’s no reason why he wouldn’t do that if he’s been doing it already.
“He’s not gonna suddenly have a change of heart and say, ‘Oh, I’ve been taking advantage of the public. Let me fight the best now.’
“I think he’ll end up fighting maybe Chris Eubank. I think that is the kind of name you might see linked to Canelo after this fight.”
