Canelo chose Saudi Arabia; he knows how to choose what he wants: Robert García

▲ The Jalisco fighter has triumphed as a visionary investor. Photo @canelo

Juan Manuelvázquez

La Jornada Newspaper, Tuesday, April 29, 2025, p. a11

Saudi Arabia is a growing universe for elite sports, supported by the nation's wealthy kingdom. Growing in sports is a state choice, and the global impact is increasingly noticeable: soccer, mixed martial arts, golf, Formula One, and of course, boxing. The calendar is packed with titanic events replacing traditional venues in the West.

Mexican Saúl Canelo Álvarez knows this and is also aiming to establish himself in this new market. The Guadalajara native has not only triumphed like no other Mexican in world boxing, but also as a visionary investor. Every step he takes is designed to enhance his image and, above all, his personal fortune. After signing an agreement to hold four fights in Saudi Arabia, the first stop will be on May 3rd against Cuban William Scull, holder of the IBF super middleweight championship belt, the same title the redhead was stripped of for not facing the mandatory opponent.

Canelo chose to fight Puerto Rican Edgar Berlanga, and it cost him his undisputed 168-pound title; he only held the WBC, WBO, and WBA belts. Now, it's time to regain his dominance in the weight class.

"Only Canelo can choose what he wants. Few fighters in the world can do that, but no one with the authority of Álvarez," Robert García, a Mexican-American trainer who has trained several famous champions, told La Jornada .

“ Canelo earned that privilege and is in a position to choose where and who he fights. Saudi Arabia has become such an important location for the sports business, so he decided to fight there because he's also smart enough to make every move, not only as a boxer, but also to make the best decisions for his career,” García adds.

In a 2024 interview for a popular podcast , Canelo described his formula for signing deals for each of his fights. He briefly reflected on the disadvantage most boxers face when it comes to negotiating earnings. The fighter, he noted, almost always keeps the smallest share of the money. That's why the Guadalajara native explained that he usually ensures that 80 percent of what his fights generate goes to him.

"I keep 80 percent of everything ," Canelo said in that interview. "Because I'm the one putting everything at risk, and I know I make a lot of money. That's why I keep 80 percent of the profits. If someone has a soda in the arena, that money is mine ."

García considers this proof of the Mexican champion's unwavering success. Something that not only surpassed all standards in boxing in our country, but has also reached the international summit.

“ Canelo is the face of boxing today. No one can complain if he fights this guy and not that guy, because in the end, he makes a tremendous amount of money that no one else can. So how can he do it? Because he's a great boxer and a very intelligent athlete,” García concludes.

According to calculations made by specialized sports business media, last year's fight against Berlanga generated $63 million in earnings for Canelo just from pay-per-view, plus about $17 million in box office earnings.

That's why he chose to fight in Saudi Arabia because big events are happening there now , Garcia concludes.

▲ The Mexican-American Boston Red Sox player has now revealed that he attempted suicide in 2022. AP Photo

Ap

La Jornada Newspaper, Tuesday, April 29, 2025, p. a11

Cleveland. Mexican-American player Jarren Durán has received support from his Boston Red Sox teammates and others outside of baseball since revealing in a Netflix documentary that he attempted suicide three years ago.

However, his statement has also exposed him to boos. Duran said that a fan in the front row near the Red Sox bench in Cleveland on Sunday said something inappropriate to him after the All-Star left fielder popped out in the seventh inning of a 13-3 win over the Guardians.

Durán stood on the top step of the dugout and stared at the fan as the inning unfolded. During the seventh-inning break, before the rendition of "God Bless America ," Red Sox teammates and coaches kept Durán away from the crease while umpires and Progressive Field security gathered to handle the situation.

The fan tried to run down the aisle, but was caught by security and taken out of the stadium.

The fans just said something inappropriate. I'm glad security handled it and the referees were aware and took care of it for me , Duran said.

After the game, the Guardians issued a statement apologizing to the Red Sox and Durán. The team said it identified the fan and is working with Major League Baseball on the next steps.

Duran said it was the first time a fan had booed him for his suicide attempt and mental health issues since the Netflix series The Clubhouse: A Year With the Red Sox premiered on April 8.

When you open yourself up like that, you also open yourself up to haters. But I have a good support team around me, teammates and coaches. There were fans who supported me, that was incredible , he said.

Boston manager Alex Cora stood in the opposite corner of the Red Sox dugout and praised security for how they handled the incident.

Cora was even more proud of the reaction of Durán, who was suspended for two games last season when he directed a homophobic slur at a booing fan at Fenway Park.

We made a mistake last year and learned from it. We matured, you know, as individuals and as a group , Cora said.

Yankees lose

In today's games, Brandon Nimmo hit a grand slam and tied a franchise record with his nine RBIs to help the New York Mets crush the Washington Nationals 19-5.

The Yankees didn't get off to a good start to the week against Baltimore. Ryan O'Hearn hit a three-run homer off Will Warren, and the Orioles held on for a 4-3 victory over New York.

For their part, the St. Louis Cardinals fell 3-1 to the Cincinnati Reds.

Adriana Díaz Reyes

La Jornada Newspaper, Tuesday, April 29, 2025, p. a12

More than 20 years after beginning her athletic career, Aída Román decided to take a long break. After collecting dozens of international medals and a silver at the 2012 London Olympics, the archer became a coach in South Dakota, United States, and returned to the national team a couple of years later.

I had no experience managing people, but I had a lot of experience in sports, and I also studied psychology for three years. I decided to take advantage of the opportunity a company (Niasa) gave me and grow as a person ," Román told La Jornada .

Although the capital city native's specialty is the recurve bow, she was hired to teach the compound bow, which was recently added to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic program.

“Unlike in Korea, here the compound is more prevalent because that's where they've had the best results. It was a challenge for me, but I've been able to adapt because on the course where I'm based, you can throw 70 meters, both indoors and outdoors ; plus, it allows me to continue training and stay in shape,” he explained.

One of the reasons why Aída decided to move was her dissatisfaction with how her discipline was handled in our country.

I didn't like the way I was treated last year, even though it was a new federation. I thought about continuing to fight to stay on the national team, but in the end, I decided to give myself the opportunity to try something new and stay away from the administrative issues.

Román, who coaches at Mount Marty University, splits her daily schedule into two. From 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. she practices her shots, and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. she coaches.

I've grown a lot. It also motivates me to be in a place that has already hosted two or three world championships. I took a bit of a risk by drastically changing my life, but it was something I was already familiar with.

Something that surprised the Olympic medalist was the fact that in the United States, sports don't depend on public resources like they do in Mexico.

▲ The London 2012 Olympic runner-up takes advantage of the opportunity a company gave her. Photo by Joshua Reyes Sámano

It's a completely different dynamic, a different philosophy about how you live as a high-performance athlete. People here generate their own resources without depending on the government; they don't ask for anything. Furthermore, the universities provide all the services to their athletes; they have impressive cafeterias, a gym, athletic tracks, and other features. It's impressive.

One of the archer's goals is to learn about the American system and share it in Mexico once she decides to return.

I want to learn and take my knowledge back to my country. I've had to deal with many factors, such as the very cold weather and the wind, which has tremendous gusts, but it's all been worth it , shared Román, who could return home to pursue a ticket to the 2027 Lima Pan American Games.

Aída is not alone in her American adventure, as her husband also coaches and has many friends known over the past two decades.

One thing I discovered is that athletes here sell everything and aren't embarrassed; on the contrary, people support them and buy what they offer. They also organize days to seek donations, offering clothing, food, and other items to raise funds to be able to go to competitions.

One of the experiences that Mexican women value most is working with people with disabilities.

Once a week, people with Down syndrome or mental retardation come and shoot their arrows. They're very skillful and fun, and they give me some pleasant surprises. It's not all about high performance; sports are also given a lot of importance as a recreational activity.

Román hopes to avoid dealing with administrative issues when he seeks a place on the national team.

I don't think things are going to change no matter what I propose. I'll just focus on shooting my arrows because there are things I can't control. What I have to do is prepare, go to tournaments, qualify, and nothing else.

AFP and Europa Press

La Jornada Newspaper, Tuesday, April 29, 2025, p. a12

London. London Mayor Sadiq Khan told The Times he supports the city becoming the first to host the Olympic Games four times , and may bid for the 2040 edition to do so.

A member of the Labour Party, the 54-year-old politician believes a successful bid for the 2029 World Athletics Championships could be a great starting point for Olympic aspirations. London hosted the 2012 Games, which were considered a huge success.

Los Angeles will host the major sporting competition in 2028 and the Australian city of Brisbane in 2032, while there is growing evidence of interest from Saudi Arabia and Qatar in the 2036 edition.

London, Paris and Los Angeles (including 2028) have hosted the summer competition three times.

"I would like to see London become the first city to host the Games four times ," Khan said. "If we manage to host the World Athletics Championships in 2029, it will mean that there will be energy, enthusiasm, and investment in athletics in the buildup to the Games."

You would have the future Mo Farah (British athlete with four Olympic golds, two of them in London 2012), and the future Paula Radcliffe (world marathon gold in 2005) , the mayor said.

Khan said he was impressed by the Paris Games last summer.

To fulfill his dream, the mayor must first convince the British government to support his bid for the 2029 World Athletics Championships. A sum of 45 million pounds ($60 million) is required, according to World Athletics, as a formal expression of interest.

The city could succeed as an Olympic host , the mayor told The Times , following a report that found hosting six major sporting events in London in 2024, including the Champions League final, generated more than £270 million for the city.

Khan argued that the positive economic impact should fuel the ambition to make London the world capital of sport, including hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games within 15 years.

From the Editorial Staff

La Jornada Newspaper, Tuesday, April 29, 2025, p. a31

Monterrey's dream of a three-peat remains alive. They drew 1-1 with Tigres in the second leg of their Liga MX women's quarterfinals, leveling the series 2-2 and advancing to the semifinals due to their superior position in the standings.

With a late goal from Jermaine Seoposenwe, the two-time champions took another step closer to the title and will face Pachuca for a spot in the final. The first leg will be in Monterrey and the second leg will be at Hidalgo Stadium.

The Monterrey derby started with a lot of intensity at the Steel Giant. Rayadas player Katty Martínez was the first to approach the opponent's goal, but the feline defense stopped her attempt.

South African Thembi Kgatlana of the Amazons missed a free ball minutes later and sent her shot wide of the goal.

The first goal came in the 36th minute. Kgatlana managed to get past the Monterrey defense and served it to Brazilian Jheniffer Cordinali, who scored to make it 1-0.

After the goal, Tigres' Jacqueline Ovalle suffered a collision and fell to the turf. The medical team came in, and the player was carried out on a stretcher amid sobs.

In the second half, both teams took the lead. Rayadas' Christina Burkenroad headed the ball in the 62nd minute, but it landed in the hands of goalkeeper Cecilia Santiago.

Thembi had another chance to increase Tigres' lead, when she was even with Pamela Tajonar, but Karol Bernal arrived and swept aside the Amazons' shot.

In stoppage time, Monterrey tied the game thanks to a right-footed goal from Jermaine Seoposenwe. The Rayadas' offense continued relentlessly in the final minutes, but they were unable to secure the win.

Rayadas keeps alive their dream of winning their third consecutive title after having lifted the trophy in the 2024 Clausura and Apertura tournaments.

The last time Amazonas and Monterrey met in the Liguilla was in the final of the 2024 Apertura Tournament. On that occasion, Rayadas tied the aggregate score at 3-3 with a last-minute goal from Katty Martínez. In the penalty shootout, the Monterrey team secured the victory.

The other semifinal will be played between América and Chivas.