Why Hasn't Mexico Fully Embraced Canelo Alvarez?

Ahhh. A Canelo fight week. It really is the best.

Once I started working for ONE37pm, shit got real. I started to watch fights in a different light. I stay objective. I try to take fights at face value. I don't "root" for people to win anymore.

However, there have been two different occasions where I still get swept away by my fandom.

Both times were when Canelo Alvarez fought.

In boxing, there are so many complaints about fighters not staying busy. And then you have Canelo who is fighting for the third time since December.

Let's be real, what would a Cinco de Mayo weekend be without Mexico's most prized fighter taking the stage?

Oscar De la Hoya fought near May 5th on six different occasions. This will be Canelo's seventh time fighting near the prestigious weekend. Who can forget my favorite boxing match of all time? Jose Luis Castillo vs Diego Corrales on May 7th, 2006.

I will probably save my spiel on the reputation of "true, Mexican boxing" for another time, but I thought it was important to look at Canelo's interesting relationship with his home country.

From the outside, it doesn't feel like Mexico is bought into Canelo. Sure, he does well with his pay-per-view numbers, but there is still a moment of hesitancy when it comes to how Mexican boxing fans feel in regards to Alvarez. Why is that? Is it the red hair? Is it their inability to let go of the past? Hell, Julio Cesar Chavez won't even give Canelo his roses.

On so many occasions, we are told, "you never know what you got until it's gone." And I really think that is the case with Canelo. He grew up from nothing and has dedicated his life to being one of the all-time greats. He has never succumbed to the temptations of wealth and fame. For 15 years, he has been a standout role model in a sport that desperately lacks them.

Why isn't he embraced more? It's hard to tell, but Canelo is damn sure giving us plenty of reasons to love him.