The passion of a Latin boxer is more than proven outside the ring, but defeat causes the feeling that is very bitter and almost unbearable. That's why every time the Panamanian fighter Roberto Duran was beaten, the need for an immediate rematch was his priority.
"Canelo [Alvarez] has made his decision. He's been moving up in weight, moving up in weight, going for titles just like Roberto Duran. I started in the bantamweights and won several world titles, and I feel he wants to do the same. But as you go up in weight he finds much stronger opposition, much more punching, and much more intelligent," said the legendary Duran in an interview with DAZN.
The "Manos de Piedra", who of his 119 fights only had 16 losses, expects Canelo to move back up to 175 pounds and seek a rematch with Dmitry Bivol as soon as possible, but now with a new approach.
"It's strange that it hasn't been done so far. That fight should have been made. I was one of the boxers that nobody could beat me, and when I was beaten I became braver and trained harder, or much harder.
"You can't fight Canelo toe to toe because he's going to knock you out. What I did notice is that Canelo didn't know how to get inside a big person - and that can be corrected.
"He can correct his mistakes. But even though the trainer can correct those mistakes in the gym, you as a fighter are the one who has to work. The trainer can train you, but when you're in the ring it's a different thing. It's you against the other."
"If it's difficult (to correct those mistakes), then you have to have pride and shame.
"This guy beat me, but he can't beat me again. That was always my mentality, if a guy beat me I always wanted a rematch, it's strange that the rematch has taken so long. If I were Canelo I would have wanted it already. I would have talked to his manager, asked him to put him in heavier sparring partners who would box him, that they wouldn't let him in so that he could develop his way of fighting."