In a recent interview, former four division world champion Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez detailed the 2020 breakup with Golden Boy Promotions, who guided the boxer's career for over a decade.

Last year, Canelo sued Golden Boy and streaming platform DAZN, to break away from his existing contracts with both entities. 

The three parties were able to reach an agreement, with Canelo becoming a complete free agent with no promotional or network ties.

Canelo says the tension with Golden Boy had been building up for several years.

"Look, I don't like to talk much about people, but I've been a very loyal person, always. And I was very loyal, always with Golden Boy. [De La Hoya] is not Golden Boy. He doesn't do anything in Golden Boy. He's worried about drinking, and being involved in other things… The decisions are made by other people. When Richard Schaefer left Golden Boy, he took all the boxers to PBC. He took all of them. And he also wanted to take me - and I was the only boxer that stayed with Golden Boy, because I’m a loyal man. But then, later I understood why everyone had gone and why Richard Schaefer left. Because those who are in Golden Boy, they are only looking after their own benefit, not the boxer's benefit," Canelo told In Depth with Graham Bensinger.

"There's no loyalty there [in Golden Boy]. None. They don't even know what that is. We were involved in a lawsuit in Miami [with All Star Boxing], which I think we would win because they were lying about everything. So we won the lawsuit, but the jury determined that I indeed wasn't under contract, but I had to give [All Star Boxing] eight million dollars. But before that, when I signed before the fight with Cotto with Golden Boy, I came to an agreement with [Golden Boy on the All Star lawsuit]. And that's when I became aware that they were only concerned about themselves, not about me."

Canelo reflected back on 2016, when he dropped the WBC middleweight title.

According to the Mexican star, he was being pressed to move forward with a purse bid for a mandatory defense against Gennadiy Golovkin, but he was unable to do so with an ongoing lawsuit in Miami with All Star Boxing.

"They wanted me to decide [to fight Golovkin] or go to some auction and, well, I couldn't because I was in the middle of this lawsuit. I couldn't do it, so no, just take it away. I have no problem with them taking it away. The other belt they took away, Golden Boy never told me they were taking away. That's why I got mad," Canelo said.

Eventually, Canelo says the entire relationship fell apart when he discovered that Golden Boy had made certain promises to DAZN - which conflicted with Canelo's contract with the platform.

"Yes. It was something completely different. I my contract, I said, the fights are for such amount, but if I fight against Golovkin, or Mayweather, or a name like that, that'll have to be negotiated. Because I'm not going to fight for the same amount. We negotiate it. But no. Golden Boy had already promised [those fights] and had already signed with DAZN that I was going to for sure fight with Golovkin for the same amount. And they never told me that," Canelo said.

"I made a completely different contract. I made a contract favorable to me, of course. But what I wanted to demonstrate, to show everyone, all Latinos, is that I sued DAZN and Golden Boy, together. Imagine how big that is. Nobody dares to do that. And if you know that you did everything right, you don't have to be afraid to something that big. I earn more now [than what I did] that with that contract [I signed with DAZN in 2018]. So that you can see what I pulled off." 

Regarding DAZN, Canelo explained that there was a disagreement with them over his pay for a potential return in September.

"Yeah. So they weren't going to pay the same amount [as stated in my contract]. They told me. And maybe I would have done it. But I'm in my moment. I'm in my moment now, and I have to take advantage of every opportunity. And I have to take advantage for myself because each and every person will always look out for their own benefit. They're not going to look out for your benefit. Even if I earn less, I'm not going to let you tell me how much I'm going to make," Canelo said.

"[Being a free agent], it's the best thing I've ever done. Because I can do whatever I want. The fights, you've seen how I arrange them. I fought in December, February, and I'll fight in May again. Easy, no complications."