Canelo, forced to win in unprecedented conditions

▲ The Mexican is looking to become the undisputed super middleweight champion again. Photo @Canelo

Juan Manuel Vázquez

La Jornada Newspaper, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, p. a12

Saúl Canelo Álvarez will attempt to become the undisputed super middleweight champion again—that is, to hold all the titles in a division—when he faces Cuban William Scull. It will be a fight that will involve much more than just regaining the title of champion of the four belts in the division. It will be the Mexican's debut in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the new mecca of major sporting events, and the first of four fights he will hold in that region.

The Guadalajara native is forced to win there before making one of the most anticipated fights of this year a reality against Terence Crawford in September, a superfight that the British newspaper The Independent describes as artificial , since the American will gain weight like never before.

This Saturday's fight in Riyadh will be for the unification of the titles of the four major organizations. Scull is the IBF champion, the belt Álvarez was stripped of in 2024 because he preferred to face Puerto Rican Edgar Berlanga instead of the mandatory challenger, who was Cuban. The Mexican is defending the belts he held: WBC, WBO, and WBA.

Neither opponent can be disqualified; it's a very dangerous fight for both , said Mauricio Sulaimán, president of the World Boxing Council, during the presentation in Mexico City of the Tlaxcala belt, a handcrafted piece that continues the organization's tradition of awarding commemorative belts at special events.

"This is Canelo 's first foray outside the Americas, and it will be a very important fight," Sulaimán explained. It will be very difficult, which is why he left well in advance because the conditions there are difficult, the air is very heavy, the schedules are terrible, the fight will be at six in the morning local time, so they sleep during the day and get up at three in the morning to train .

Despite this, Sulaimán considers Canelo to be the undisputed champion in the eyes of the world, as he won the belt the Cuban is defending on the spot, given the Guadalajara native's refusal to defend it when the IBF demanded it.

There's something else at stake. Saudi Arabia has become a very lucrative territory for major sports organizations, driven by a Public Investment Fund that has promoted soccer, Formula One, golf, tennis, UFC, and boxing on a massive scale. More and more elite sports are gaining a presence in the region, financially supported by the kingdom's authorities, whose fortune comes from its oil reserves.

The independent Danish organization Play the Game, which promotes democratic values ​​in sports, published a report on Saudi Arabia's multi-million-dollar investment as part of a project to reshape its global image, which has been criticized primarily for human rights violations.

For example, the kingdom's public fund owns four clubs in the Saudi Professional League, and another four are owned by state-owned entities. These clubs have signed some of the biggest names in soccer, such as Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Neymar, with extraordinary deals that could exceed $1 billion in salaries for 20 foreign players , the organization reports.

That is the market in which Canelo will debut, whose importance is recognized and of interest in Saudi Arabia given its rapid growth in world sport.

Vianney Carrera

Correspondent

La Jornada Newspaper, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, p. a12

Monterrey, NL., For the third time, the hearing of former gymnastics coach Damazo N, accused of sexual abuse in Nuevo León, was postponed.

Although it was scheduled to take place yesterday at 9 a.m. at the Monterrey Palace of Justice, after both defense teams entered the facility, it was reportedly postponed to May 6.

Relatives and friends of the victims, representatives of the State Human Rights Commission in Nuevo León, and feminist groups attended the scene.

From our perspective, these are delaying tactics on the part of Damazo's defense team. We don't understand why they don't want to face trial; the judge evidently guarantees her rights. I insist that the hearing be held , explained Alejandro Romano, the lawyer for one of the victims.

The first hearing was scheduled for April 23, when he was to be charged with rape and indecent assault, but it was postponed after the defendant's defense argued that they did not have enough time to review the investigation files.

It was then rescheduled for Friday, April 25; however, the same thing happened, and it was postponed to this Tuesday.

Total indignation

"We're outraged because Damazo's lawyers are now blaming the parents. I know for a fact; I lived through my niece's case when she was in gymnastics at Klass (the name of the gym). They wouldn't let us parents in; they trusted their daughters were practicing a healthy sport ," said Judith Briones, aunt of one of the affected girls, who also noted that Damazo would sneak into his students' rooms when they had to go to competitions out of state .

Another person who expressed her support for the victims was Mayra Briones, a relative of one of the complainants.

We want justice for each of them. It's unfair to postpone (the hearing) for another week when we know there is evidence and testimony that this person committed these crimes.

The former coach is currently in a State Social Reintegration Center, following his arrest on April 25 by the Nuevo León Attorney General's Office.

AFP

La Jornada Newspaper, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, p. a30

The Celtics thrashed the Orlando Magic 120-89 yesterday to close out the series 4-1 and advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals, where they await the winner of the matchup between the Knicks and Detroit Pistons.

With 35 points, 12 of them from three-point range – where he made four of his five shots – Jayson Tatum led his team at the TD Garden in Boston, followed by Jaylen Brown, who contributed 23 points.

Tatum, who played 34 minutes on the court, also had the most rebounds on his team, with eight.

In another matchup, the Denver Nuggets moved within one win of advancing to the Western Conference semifinals after defeating the Los Angeles Clippers 131-115.

Today, the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota could also advance to the semifinals if they defeat the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers, respectively.