Canelo Alvarez: Reflecting on a Legendary Career
As Canelo Alvarez steps into what many believe to be the final chapter of his illustrious boxing career, it’s a perfect moment to look back at the defining fights that have shaped his journey to the Hall of Fame. With a career that has spanned two decades, Alvarez has become a household name in the boxing world, and his upcoming bout against William Scull marks the beginning of a new era.
The announcement of Alvarez facing Scull, a name not widely recognized outside the circle of hardcore boxing enthusiasts, might not have set the world on fire. However, it signifies the start of a fresh chapter for the reigning super middleweight champion. This fight is the first of four under his new deal with Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season, offering Alvarez the opportunity to reclaim the IBF belt he lost last year after opting not to face the mandatory challenger, Scull. Should Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs) emerge victorious, a much-anticipated showdown with two-division undisputed champion Terence Crawford awaits in September, promising to be the marquee boxing event of 2025.
Reclaiming the undisputed super middleweight title would be a significant milestone in Alvarez’s career, but it’s just one of many. Let’s delve into the 11 most pivotal moments that have defined one of boxing’s brightest stars.
11. Unanimous Decision Win vs. Matthew Hatton — May 3, 2011
At the tender age of 20, Alvarez clinched his first world title with a dominant decision win over Matthew Hatton, the brother of two-weight world champion Ricky Hatton. “This was my first world title shot, but it’s the first of many and I’ll win them all for my fans. I’m going to be the next big name of Mexico,” Canelo declared post-fight. And he was right.
Alvarez secured the vacant WBC junior middleweight title, marking the first time many boxing fans witnessed his prowess. Despite being penalized a point for hitting Hatton out of a clinch, Alvarez won every round, earning landslide scores of 119-108 on all three scorecards at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. “I knew straight away he was a super fighter — he was very strong and picked his punches so well. It was a painful night for me,” Hatton told ESPN in 2021.
10. Unanimous Decision Win vs. Shane Mosley — May 5, 2012
On Cinco de Mayo weekend, for the second consecutive year, Canelo secured a career-defining victory, setting the stage for even bigger fights. Mosley, then 40, was a shadow of his former self, but defeating a boxing legend was a crucial boost for the 21-year-old Alvarez’s career and profile. Canelo’s unanimous decision win was the co-main event to Floyd Mayweather’s victory over Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, where Alvarez landed 348 of 673 punches (52%).
“I didn’t expect him to be that fast or that good,” Mosley admitted after the fight. “He’s up there with the top guys I’ve faced. Mayweather is fast, Cotto, all those guys I fought. He’s up there with them.”
9. Unanimous Decision Win vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. — May 6, 2017
National pride was on the line when Canelo moved up to super middleweight and dominated Chavez on Cinco de Mayo weekend. The fight, held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, was a one-sided affair, with Alvarez winning by unanimous 120-108 scores. The most thrilling aspect was the announcement of his upcoming fight against unified middleweight champion Gennadiy Golovkin on Mexican Independence Day weekend.
Chavez was overmatched, but his name carried weight as the son of the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez. Canelo’s victory paved the way for the highly anticipated Golovkin trilogy and perhaps gave Alvarez the confidence to compete beyond middleweight.
8. TKO8 Win vs. Billy Joe Saunders — May 8, 2021
After a heated buildup, Canelo delivered a punishing defeat to Saunders in their super middleweight title unification clash. Saunders was hit with a devastating right uppercut in Round 8, closing his right eye and forcing his corner to stop the fight before the ninth round. Canelo reveled in the final eighth round at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, waving to the 73,126 fans in attendance as he inflicted damage that required surgery to repair Saunders’ fractured right orbital bone.
Saunders was expected to challenge Alvarez with his southpaw movement and slick boxing, but Canelo’s performance solidified his status as a top pound-for-pound fighter. At the time of the stoppage, Saunders was down 78-74, 77-75, and 78-74 on the official scorecards. This victory added the WBO title to Canelo’s WBC and WBA super middleweight belts.
7. Unanimous Decision Win vs. Miguel Cotto — Nov. 21, 2015
Canelo became a two-weight world champion with a unanimous decision win over the popular Cotto. Despite Cotto’s experience as a four-division world champion, Canelo was too sharp and heavy-handed, winning the vacant WBC middleweight crown at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
“I will always respect him and he’s a great champion, but now it’s my era,” Alvarez stated after the fight. This victory marked Alvarez as boxing’s next big star following Mayweather’s retirement two months earlier, generating 900,000 pay-per-view buys and boosting Canelo’s status in pound-for-pound lists.
6. Majority Decision Loss vs. Floyd Mayweather — Sept. 14, 2013
Alvarez’s first defeat only enhanced his reputation. Canelo lost a majority decision to Mayweather at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, in an event billed as “The One.” One judge scored it a draw, while the others had it 117-111 and 116-112 in favor of Mayweather, who took Canelo’s WBC belt and defended his WBA title.
“Canelo is a young, strong champion. A great Mexican champion,” Mayweather said post-fight. “I take my hat off to him and to Mexico. He can take a loss and bounce back.” Despite the loss, Canelo’s performance elevated his career, and the fight shattered the all-time record for highest-grossing pay-per-view fight, generating $150 million in revenue from 2.2 million pay-per-view buys.
5. TKO11 Win vs. Caleb Plant — Nov. 6, 2021
Alvarez became the first undisputed world champion at 168 pounds when he stopped Caleb Plant at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Canelo’s pinpoint left hook and right uppercut in Round 11 led to Plant’s first knockdown, followed by a series of punches that secured victory.
“It means so much to me, for the history of Mexico, to be an undisputed champion,” Alvarez said, earning a guaranteed $40 million. Plant was behind on all three scorecards at the time of the stoppage: 96-94, 98-92, and 97-93. Canelo added Plant’s IBF belt to his WBC, WBA, and WBO super middleweight titles, confirming his status as pound-for-pound No. 1.
4. KO11 Win vs. Sergey Kovalev — Nov. 2, 2019
Alvarez, the reigning middleweight world champion, moved up two weight divisions to score an 11th-round knockout win over Kovalev, winning the WBO belt at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. This victory made Canelo a world champion in a fourth weight class, joining fellow Mexicans Juan Manuel Marquez, Erik “Terrible” Morales, and Jorge “Travieso” Arce.
The fight was competitive early on, with Kovalev relying on his jab and Canelo targeting the body. Canelo’s speed, energy, and combinations shone in the later rounds, culminating in a left hook to the jaw and a big right hand that left Kovalev draped over the ropes. “It was a very close fight because he was defensive, he was closing up his guard. All he was doing was try to establish points, but we knew what was coming,” Canelo said, earning a reported $35 million for the fight.
3. Split Draw vs. Gennadiy Golovkin — Sept. 16, 2017
Some felt Golovkin was unlucky not to win their first fight, which ended in a split draw in 2017 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The fight was compared to the thrilling middleweight title fight between Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns in 1985, but Canelo did not engage enough with GGG to be a classic.
Canelo was hurt by the reaction to the first fight, which many gave to Golovkin. The fight did more than 1.3 million pay-per-view buys. One judge scored it even, another 115-113 to GGG, while a third judge was heavily criticized for a 118-110 verdict for Canelo. “This is terrible for sport, for boxing,” Golovkin said post-fight.
2. Majority Decision Win vs. Gennadiy Golovkin — Sept. 15, 2018
A positive PED test for Alvarez in March 2018 forced the rematch to be postponed, adding more tension to the mix. Alvarez blamed tainted meat for the positive test.
The second fight at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas was better, and so was Alvarez. The majority decision in his favor was debated, but not as hotly as the first encounter. Canelo was the aggressor, handing GGG his first professional defeat. “He was the one who was backing up, it was a clear victory,” Canelo said post-fight.
1. Unanimous Decision Win vs. Gennadiy Golovkin — Sept. 17, 2022
Canelo’s trilogy with Golovkin, also at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, is a story of controversy, redemption, and triumph for Alvarez. The final fight, four years after the second, was not as entertaining as the first two, but Canelo emerged a clear winner over a then 40-year-old Golovkin. Alvarez retained his undisputed super middleweight crown with a unanimous decision victory.
What was important is that the victory helped Canelo settle the trilogy with a much-needed win, responding to a decision loss to Dmitry Bivol at light heavyweight just four months earlier. “Everybody knows this is high-level class. This is the best fighter in boxing. Everyone knows who is Canelo,” Golovkin said. “This fight is more tactical. Today, Canelo is better. Congrats to Canelo.” Canelo has been unbeaten since.
Originally Written by: Nick Parkinson
