Demetrius Andrade labelled Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez a coward for saying he would never fight the WBO middleweight champion.
The 33-year-old American confronted the Mexican WBA, WBC and WBO super middleweight champion the weekend before last at Canelo’s post-fight press conference in order to create pressure for a fight of their own. Canelo had just defeated Billy Joe Saunders with an impressive TKO.
However, Canelo said in response that he would never entertain a fight with Andrade, despite reportedly wanting to fight for seven more years.
Speaking to the DAZN Boxing Show, Andrade hit out at Canelo for shutting him down.
“I gave him respect: ‘Canelo, good job, now when can we make it happen?’
“He’s a coward, a coward. That’s some coward s—. You can’t give people the opportunity to fight, about money or not about money. Give people the opportunity to make a name for themselves but I can’t do that, that’s cowardly.
“Callum Smith, he fought a load of old guys in Europe and all of a sudden he’s getting the fight. What did Billy Joe do to get that fight? He went 12 rounds with Martin Murray.
“I tried to fight Billy Joe and go up to 168lbs. Billy Joe said he’d knock me out rather than wait for Canelo. It was all smoke and mirrors to maybe make more money. They used my name for leverage. If me and Billy Joe would have fought, I think I have the confidence and ability to beat him.
“If you think you can beat me, then come and fight me next, because then you’ll make way more money against Canelo.
“I tried to make it happen and Canelo shut it down, because he’s a powerful guy and he has the luxury to do these things.”