Oscar De La Hoya has told Canelo Alvarez to ditch Eddy Reynoso and find a new trainer.
De La Hoya’s comments came in the aftermath of Canelo’s loss to Terence Crawford, as he lost his Undisputed Super Middleweight Title. The defeat was an upset given Crawford had moved up two weight classes from 154 to box in a division for the first time. That was Canelo’s third defeat of his career, as he has previously come up short against Floyd Mayweather and Dmitry Bivol.
The three defeats showed he could be outboxed, raising questions whether Alvarez can cut it against the very best. Reynoso has guided Canelo to a four-weight world champion and a two-time undisputed champion at 168, with wins over the likes of Caleb Plant, Amir Khan and GGG. And yet, Oscar has called for a change.
A leading candidate could be Ronnie Shields, who has a proven history of sharpening the technical skills of world champions across multiple eras, including Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson. The primary appeal of Shields is his ability to teach the necessary footwork, speed, and subtle defensive movements that Canelo lacked against Crawford. Shields’ methods emphasize defensive positioning, which are crucial for neutralizing faster opponents who rely on angles and lateral movement.
Another option is Robert Garcia, known for his versatility and ability to tailor game plans to individual fighters. Garcia’s strength lies in his experience working with boxers in weight classes around Canelo’s weight. Garcia’s presence could force Canelo to think differently about pressure, combining his power advantage with smarter ring-cutting tactics to cut off the ring more effectively, rather than relying solely on brute force. However, at this stage of his career, will Canelo do it?
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