Robert Garcia wants assurances about his camp’s safety before Lindolfo Delgado’s October 31 vacant IBF light welterweight title fight in Riyadh. He expects Canelo Alvarez to receive royal treatment ahead of his fight with Christian Mbilli, but fears his own team will be left traveling without the same protection.
The veteran trainer sounded uneasy rather than defiant when speaking on his team’s travel logistics. His issue is not whether the bout takes place, but the wide gulf between how the headliner travels and how the undercard talent gets moved into Saudi Arabia.
Canelo operates in an entirely different financial stratosphere. Garcia expects him to arrive by private plane with security handling his trip to the arena. His fear is that Delgado and his corner will have to fly commercial and pass through a public airport without comparable protection.
“They’ll f***ing fly private. They’ll go into a private airport where nobody knows where they’re at. They’ll have security driving them to the arena,” Garcia told Elie Seckbach.
Garcia wants similar protection for his group, but his tone sounded more resigned than demanding. He knows how big-money boxing operates. Promoters spare no expense for the box-office anchor, while supporting fighters are left to fend for themselves on standard itineraries.
“Canelo’s fight might happen because, like I told you, he’s secured. Not us. We’re not secured,” Garcia admitted.
The idea of Delgado’s camp joining Canelo on a private charter is wishful thinking, and Garcia practically acknowledged it in the same breath.
“If they tell us, ‘You guys are all traveling together,’ then we’re fine, but I don’t think that’s the case.”
Garcia doesn’t sound hopeful. Delgado is fighting Artur Biyarslanov for the vacant IBF light welterweight title, but that doesn’t buy him Canelo’s treatment. Canelo headlines the event. Delgado fills a spot underneath him, even with a world championship at stake.
Robert can vent to reporters, but walking away could cost his fighter the opportunity he’s been working toward. If Garcia refuses to travel without better security, organizers could look for a replacement. Delgado would then be watching somebody else fight for the belt.
That’s what makes Garcia’s position so uncomfortable. He has every reason to ask how his team will be protected, yet Delgado could be the one paying for it if they refuse to go. A world title shot is a powerful incentive to board the plane, even when your trainer has serious doubts about the trip.
