Gloves Up, Guns Down: When Canelo Takes on Crawford, Expect a Cartel Ceasefire

by Heath Hansen

Murders, kidnappings, shootings, and drug trafficking should slow down during the fight.

Tonight is the big fight between Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez and Terence “Bud” Crawford. Considering Álvarez is the current super middleweight champion, there is no shortage of interest throughout the world for this bout. This clash and others like it have a direct impact on Mexican drug cartels. When the bell goes off, the cartels usually, unofficially, declare a “ceasefire” in their operations throughout North America, so that they, too, can enjoy the controlled violence within the ring. 

A source close to me, who holds a supervisory position within Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), told me activity drops off dramatically right before, during, and shortly after, a popular boxing match in Mexico. 

“These guys love boxing. They sit down, grab their cervezas, and scream at the TV to root on their boy in the ring,” he tells me, as we sit down at the bar and grab a drink ourselves. 

I heard the same from Tim Foley, who has seen this first hand in his work for Arizona Border Recon.

“The same thing happens during Christmas, New Year’s, and other Mexican holidays,” Foley said. “Activity on the border drops significantly for a day or two.”

READ MORE from Heath Hansen: Wilderness Tracking in Arizona: A Mission Along the Border

As boxing is a popular national sport, it’s no surprise that Mexicans from all walks of life set aside work, as well as narco-terrorism, to cheer their favorite fighter during the match. 

Regardless of what cartel controls which territory, they can all happily come together to watch Canelo – which means “cinnamon” in Spanish – a hero throughout Mexico, fight the American representative, Crawford, in this major match. 

READ MORE: Blood on the Highway: The Cartel War to Seize Power in Sinaloa

So tonight, as you sit down on the couch or at the bar, and cheer on your favorite fighter, take a small reprieve in knowing that cartel activity may be on hiatus for a while during the match. 

Murders, kidnappings, shootings, and drug trafficking should slow down this Saturday evening. If Canelo, the fair-skinned, red haired champion retains his title, that reprieve may last well into tomorrow morning.

Heath Hansen is a correspondent for Soldier of Fortune. He frequently covers cartel activity on the U.S. southern border.