Canelo Alvarez, born on July 18, 1990, is a Mexican professional boxer who has become one of the biggest names in the sport. He started his professional career in 2005 when he was just 15 years old and has since then won multiple world titles in different weight classes. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the life and career of Canelo Alvarez, the boxer who is often referred to as the face of boxing.
Early Life and Career
Canelo Alvarez was born in Juanacatlán, Jalisco, Mexico, and grew up with six siblings. His parents were both boxers, and they introduced him and his brothers to boxing at a young age. Canelo started training as a boxer when he was just 5 years old and had his first amateur fight at the age of 13.
As a young boxer, Canelo was already showing signs of greatness. He won the Mexican Junior National Championship in 2004 and 2005 and turned pro in 2005 when he was just 15 years old. In his first professional fight, he knocked out Abraham Gonzalez in the fourth round.
The Rise to Fame
After turning pro, Canelo Alvarez quickly rose through the ranks. He won his first 43 fights, including victories over some of the biggest names in boxing, such as Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto, and Amir Khan. He also won multiple world titles in different weight classes, including the WBC, WBA, and IBF titles.
Canelo’s rise to fame was not only due to his impressive record but also his good looks and charming personality. He quickly became a fan favorite, especially in Mexico, where he is considered a national hero. He has also been featured in several commercials and movies, further adding to his fame.
The Mayweather Fight
In 2013, Canelo Alvarez faced Floyd Mayweather Jr. in what was one of the most anticipated fights of the year. Mayweather was already regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time, and Canelo was seen as his biggest challenge yet.
The fight ended up being a one-sided affair, with Mayweather dominating Canelo for 12 rounds. Canelo suffered the first loss of his career, but the fight did not diminish his popularity. In fact, it only made him more determined to become a better boxer.
The Middleweight Champion
Canelo Alvarez continued to fight and win after his loss to Mayweather. In 2015, he won the WBC middleweight title by defeating Miguel Cotto, and he successfully defended it against Amir Khan and Liam Smith.
In 2017, Canelo faced off against Gennady Golovkin in what was one of the most highly anticipated fights of the year. The two boxers fought to a controversial draw, with many believing that Canelo should have won. The two boxers had a rematch in 2018, and this time, Canelo came out on top, winning the WBA, WBC, and IBF middleweight titles.
The Future of Canelo Alvarez
Canelo Alvarez is still an active boxer and is considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. He has a record of 56 wins, 1 loss, and 2 draws, and he has won world titles in four weight classes.
As for his future, Canelo has expressed his desire to become the undisputed champion in the super middleweight division, which would require him to defeat Caleb Plant. He has also teased the possibility of moving up to the light heavyweight division to challenge champions like Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.
Conclusion
Canelo Alvarez is one of the biggest names in boxing and has achieved a lot in his relatively short career. He has won multiple world titles, faced off against some of the best boxers in the world, and has become a fan favorite thanks to his good looks and charming personality. He is still an active boxer and has many more fights ahead of him, and it will be interesting to see how his career unfolds in the coming years.
