Like the backing Julio César Chávez Jr. received from Mexico's other major network, Televisión Azteca, Televisa has exaggerated Alvarez's skills and his preparation for his fights.
The two networks, whose soap operas and soccer games compete for ratings, present boxing programs on Saturdays whose objectivity is secondary to promoting the boxers they feature.
In an interview in San Diego, Álvarez explained his relationship with Televisa.
"The network transmits my fights because they are interested, and that helps me as boxer," he said. "I don't have a contract with them, there's nothing, they simply air my fights."
Álvarez was born Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, a city of 220,000 located in central Jalisco state. One of his brothers, also a boxer, encouraged him to take up the sport. Álvarez began fighting professionally at age 15.
"I've dreamed of becoming a champion since I turned professional," he said. "I can't explain it. I'm happy and motivated to achieve things."
Though Álvarez is the WBC's reigning super welterweight champion a title last held by none other than Manny Pacquiao – leading boxing writers rate him well below the title-holders from the other boxing organizations.
The site fightnews.com rates Álvarez ninth in his division, below the champions of the other organizations, and boxrec.com places him as number six among the best super welterweights of the world.
When asked, Álvarez responds that he thinks those sites have not updated their ratings. Regardless, he said, he prepares every day so he can be considered among the best.
"Canelo's" (36-0-1-26 knockouts) next fight is scheduled for June 18. He said his likely opponent would be the Englishman Ryan Rhodes (45-4-31 knockouts) in either Jalisco or Puebla.
Omar.millan@sandiegored.com
