Under Claudia Sheinbaum's administration, the Mexican government is taking a different approach to her predecessor's "hugs, not bullets" strategy of combating organized crime groups. During his presidency, Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) focused on avoiding engaging directly with drug cartels, emphasizing social programs aimed at reducing recruitment into criminal organizations.
Since being sworn in, Sheinbaum has adopted a more proactive approach, launching a special task force to curb cartel-related violence in northern Mexico as well as operations to apprehend and bring down networks between local government officials suspected of having ties with criminal groups in central Mexico.
However, during her Nov. 29 morning press conference, Sheinbaum used a chapter of AMLO's book and invited Mexico's biggest sports star to share the stage where he gave a speech directed towards the country's youth.
Professional boxer and super middleweight world champion Saúl "Canelo" Álvarez made a surprise appearance during Sheinbaum's "mañanera" and pleaded with children and adolescents in Sinaloa to use sports as a vehicle to escape the crime-ridden culture in which their communities have been immersed due to the power drug cartels have in the region.
"First for all, I think it comes from the parents...Sports are important so people can get out of that cycle," Canelo said. "I personally have seen many adolescents that used drugs, that were lost...they immersed themselves into the world of boxing and now they have a totally different life."
Álvarez, the only boxer in history to become the undisputed champion at super middleweight and winner of 18 world titles throughout his career, continued with his plea by asking adolescents to pursue any sport they like and that he hopes during Sheinbaum's administration that sports continue to be supported by government agencies.
After Canelo's speech, President Sheinbaum made the announcement that Mexico will organize the largest boxing class in the world, which will take place during April 6, 2025 to celebrate the International Day of Sports for Development and Peace.
"We want to make this happen in every city square around the country. We invite all mayors and governors to join us with what we will be doing in Mexico City," Sheinbaum added.
Massive free classes are a Sheinbaum staple
Sheinbaum held a similar events during her time as Head of Government of Mexico City from 2018 to 2023. The first boxing class event she launched was in 2021 and by 2022, nearly 14,500 people joined boxers Ana María "La Guerrera" Torres, David "El Rey" Picasso and Mariana "La Barby" Juárez for the biggest boxing class in the world, which earned them a Guinness World Record.
A year later, residents of Mexico City set another record when around 30,000 people attended the boxing class imparted by legendary boxer Julio César Chávez.
In October 2022, Sheinbaum held a class in Mexico City's Zócalo square to encourage people to practice the sport of diving that has given Mexico 17 Olympic medals.
© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
