Canelo Álvarez is a highly accomplished Mexican professional boxer who has achieved remarkable success in his career. He has held multiple world championships in four different weight classes, ranging from light middleweight to light heavyweight. His achievements include unified titles in three weight classes and lineal titles in two. He made history by becoming the first and only undisputed champion at super middleweight, holding the WBA (Super), WBC, Ring magazine, IBF, and WBO titles. He is renowned for his exceptional counterpunching skills, skillfully capitalizing on his opponents' defensive openings while evading their punches with fluid head and body movement. He is particularly recognized for his devastating body punches. In May 2022, Álvarez was ranked as the best active boxer pound-for-pound by BoxRec and the Boxing Writers Association of America. He holds high rankings across multiple boxing organizations, being rated as the top active super middleweight by BoxRec, The Ring, TBRB, and ESPN. Canelo Álvarez has a total of 63 professional boxing fights to his name. Out of those, he has emerged victorious in 59 bouts, with an impressive 39 wins coming by way of knockout. He has experienced defeat on two occasions and has also settled for two draws throughout his career.
Canelo Álvarez is a highly accomplished Mexican professional boxer, holding multiple world championships in four weight classes. He made history as the first undisputed super middleweight champion and is ranked as the best pound-for-pound boxer. With 59 victories, including 39 knockouts, he has a remarkable record of success in his 63 professional fights.
Canelo Álvarez, born as Santos Saúl Álvarez Barragán on July 18, 1990, is currently 32 years old as of 2023. He is known by his nickname "Canelo," which means cinnamon in Spanish, often given to individuals with red hair. He grew up in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, and belongs to the Mexican-White ethnic group. His family hails from Los Reyes, Michoacan, and relocated to Juanacatlán, Jalisco, when he was five years old. Álvarez learned horseback riding on his family's farm and is the youngest of eight children born to Santos Álvarez and Ana María Barragán. His siblings include professional boxers Ramón Álvarez, Ricardo Álvarez, Rigoberto Álvarez, and Ana Elda Álvarez among seven. Canelo Álvarez and all of his brothers pursued careers in professional boxing. He is a Cancer by horoscope and practices the Christian religion.
At approximately 13 years old, Álvarez embarked on his boxing journey inspired by his older brother Rigoberto's professional debut, and at the age of 15, he clinched the title of Junior Mexican National Boxing Champion in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, following his silver medal win at the 2004 Junior Mexican National Championships in Sinaloa, boasting an amateur record of 44-2 with 12 knockouts. At the age of 15, shortly after his victory at the Junior Mexican National Championships, Álvarez turned professional due to a lack of suitable opponents in the junior category. In his first 19 months as a pro, he defeated 11 of his 13 documented opponents, all of whom were older than him. However, it is believed that he actually had 10 more fights during that period, all of which were poorly documented, resulting in an actual record of 67-2-2 with 49 knockouts. Álvarez's third official bout was a win over Miguel Vázquez, the future IBF lightweight champion, and he made history on that fight card by sharing it with his six brothers, making him the youngest. He continued to excel in his career, winning fights against notable opponents such as Carlos Baldomir and Lovemore N'dou. Álvarez secured the vacant WBC light middleweight title by defeating Matthew Hatton and successfully defended it against Ryan Rhodes and Alfonso Gómez.
Álvarez showcased his skills in a fight against Kermit Cintrón, delivering a fifth-round TKO victory. After three rounds of sizing up his opponent, Álvarez unleashed punishing body shots and straight right hands in the fourth round, knocking Cintrón down and nearly finishing him. In the fifth round, Cintrón fought back with combinations, but Álvarez's power proved too much as he unleashed powerful straight right hands that overwhelmed Cintrón, leading to the referee stopping the fight. The fight drew an average of 1.5 million viewers on HBO: Boxing After Dark. Álvarez's next challenge came in the form of Shane Mosley, whom he faced on the undercard of Miguel Cotto's bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr. Álvarez secured a unanimous decision victory over Mosley after twelve rounds, defending his WBC light middleweight title. Following that, Álvarez was scheduled to fight Paul Williams, but due to Williams' unfortunate motorcycle accident, Josesito López stepped in as a replacement. In their fight for the WBC light middleweight title, Álvarez dominated López, ultimately winning via fifth-round TKO and remaining undefeated with a record of 41-0-1. The fight drew an average of 1.04 million viewers on Showtime. Álvarez's next significant bout took place against Austin Trout on April 20, 2013, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Álvarez successfully defended his WBC light middleweight title while also capturing the WBA (Regular) and vacant Ring light middleweight titles. Despite a solid game plan from Trout in the early rounds, Álvarez's power became the deciding factor. He scored a knockdown in the seventh round, cementing his dominance. The fight was a closer affair than expected, but Álvarez emerged victorious, solidifying his position as a top contender in the division.
Next, Canelo Álvarez faced off against Floyd Mayweather Jr. on September 14, 2013, in a highly anticipated bout. Álvarez, the unified WBA (Regular) and WBC light middleweight champion challenged Mayweather, who held multiple titles across different weight classes. Despite their respective accomplishments, Mayweather proved to be the superior fighter, winning the fight via majority decision. Judge C. J. Ross controversially scored the fight a draw, while the other two judges scored it 116-112 and 117-111 in Mayweather's favor. CompuBox stats demonstrated Mayweather's dominance, with him landing 232 punches compared to Álvarez's 117. Mayweather earned a guaranteed purse of $41.5 million, while Álvarez received $5 million. After this defeat, Álvarez went on to face Alfredo Angulo, whom he defeated via a tenth-round stoppage in a catchweight fight. Following that, Álvarez took on Erislandy Lara in a non-title match, winning via a split decision in a closely contested fight.
In January 2015, Oscar De La Hoya announced that Canelo Álvarez would fight James Kirkland in a non-title light middleweight bout. The fight took place in May 2015 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, with Álvarez winning by third-round knockout. Following the victory, Álvarez set up a mega pay-per-view (PPV) fight against WBC middleweight champion Miguel Cotto. In November 2015, Álvarez defeated Cotto to become the WBC, Ring, and lineal middleweight champion. The fight generated significant revenue, with 900,000 PPV buys and approximately $58 million in domestic revenue. Álvarez then faced Amir Khan in May 2016, winning by knockout and drawing close to 600,000 PPV buys. He later dropped to the light middleweight division to challenge Liam Smith and won the WBO title in September 2016. Álvarez's next fight was against Julio César Chávez Jr. in May 2017, which he won by unanimous decision in a sold-out event. The fight generated over a million PPV buys, marking a significant achievement in the sport.
After their first fight ended in a controversial draw, talks for a rematch between Canelo Álvarez and Gennady Golovkin began. Álvarez tested positive for a banned substance before the rematch was scheduled, leading to a temporary suspension. However, Álvarez eventually received a six-month suspension and the rematch was rescheduled for September 2018. The negotiations for the rematch faced several hurdles, including issues with the purse split. Golovkin was stripped of his IBF title, and Álvarez set a deadline for accepting a split in his favor. Eventually, terms were agreed upon, and the rematch took place on September 15, 2018, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
In October 2018, Canelo Álvarez announced his move to the super middleweight division to fight Rocky Fielding for the WBA (Regular) super middleweight title. This came after signing a five-year, $365 million deal with DAZN, replacing his expired contract with HBO. Álvarez dominated the bout against Fielding, winning via third-round technical knockout. He then returned to the middleweight division and faced IBF middleweight champion Daniel Jacobs in a unification bout in May 2019, winning by unanimous decision and obtaining Jacobs' title. Álvarez continued to make history by moving up to light heavyweight to challenge Sergey Kovalev for the WBO title in November 2019. After a competitive fight, Álvarez scored a knockout victory in the eleventh round, becoming a four-division world champion. He was named the Fighter of the Year by several publications for his successful 2019 campaign. In November 2020, Álvarez was released from his contract with Golden Boy Promotions, and he went on to face Callum Smith in December, winning by unanimous decision and capturing the WBA (Super) and vacant WBC super middleweight titles.
On February 27, 2021, Canelo Álvarez defended his title against Avni Yıldırım, winning by third-round corner retirement. He then faced Billy Joe Saunders on May 8, winning via eighth-round corner retirement and unifying the titles. Álvarez later fought Caleb Plant on November 6, becoming the undisputed champion at super middleweight with an eleventh-round technical knockout victory. With this win, he became one of only six fighters to unify all belts in one division in the four-belt era. At the WBC Convention in November 2021, the WBC approved Canelo Álvarez's request to challenge Ilunga Makabu for the cruiserweight title. However, the fight did not materialize, and Álvarez signed a two-fight deal with Matchroom Boxing. In his first fight, Álvarez faced Dmitry Bivol for the WBA (Super) light heavyweight title but suffered a surprise defeat by a unanimous decision. He expressed interest in a rematch but instead chose to face Gennady Golovkin in a trilogy bout at super middleweight, where he won via unanimous decision. On 14th March 2023, Álvarez announced his second defense of the undisputed super middleweight titles against John Ryder in his hometown of Guadalajara, Mexico. The fight took place on May 6 at Estadio Akron. Álvarez won the bout by unanimous decision, with the judges scoring the fight 118-109, 118-109, and 120-107 after 12 rounds. This victory improved Álvarez's record to 59 wins, 2 losses, and 2 draws.
As of 2023, Canelo Álvarez, the accomplished professional boxer, is estimated to have a net worth of $210 million. His remarkable career has propelled him to great heights, and at his current age, he enjoys financial security, fame, and the love of his fiancée and children. With an annual income exceeding $20 million, he has earned his wealth through unwavering dedication and hard work. Canelo is widely recognized as the biggest box office attraction in the boxing world today. While he has only suffered one defeat in his career, against the legendary Floyd Mayweather, some of his fights have been marred by controversy. Although opinions differ on certain bouts, officially he has lost only once, and that was in his early days. His boxing career remains his primary source of income, and he is content with the rewards it brings. He is rumored to have struck a lucrative agreement with British promoter Eddie Hearn, potentially earning him a staggering $150 million annually. Prior to this, he had been associated with Golden Boy Promotion, which had promised him a substantial sum of $350 million, but he parted ways with the company before the deal could be fulfilled. Enjoying the fruits of his success, Canelo resides in an expansive mansion and boasts a remarkable collection of Lamborghini cars. He is living a lavish lifestyle right now.
Canelo Álvarez is happily married to his wife, Fernanda Gomez. They have been together since 2017 and tied the knot on May 15, 2021, in a private ceremony in Guadalajara, Mexico. Fernanda, a former model turned businesswoman and entrepreneur, launched her own handbag line called Hermes Made in 2019. While she prefers to keep her personal life private, she occasionally shares pictures with Canelo and their daughter, Maria, on social media. Canelo has referred to Fernanda as his "partner in life" and credits her for keeping him grounded and focused on his career. They appear to be a loving and content couple, complementing each other well. From 2010 to 2012, Canelo Álvarez was engaged to Marisol Gonzalez, who held the title of Miss Mexico Universe in 2003 and is currently a sports reporter for Televisa Deportes.
Álvarez has two additional children from separate relationships. At the young age of 16, shortly after starting his professional boxing career, Alvarez became a father for the first time. This was the result of his relationship with Karen Beltran, and he maintains contact with his 14-year-old daughter, Emily Cinnamon. Alvarez also has a son with his former business partner and ex-girlfriend, Nadia Sepulveda. Their son, Saul Adiel, was born in 2019, likely during a period of temporary separation between Alvarez and his wife, Fernanda Gomez.
Canelo Álvarez is a Mexican professional boxer known for his athletic and strong body build. He stands tall at a height of five feet nine inches or 1.75 meters. With short reddish-brown hair and captivating brown eyes, Canelo exudes charm and charisma. He maintains a balanced body weight of 75 kilograms and has a well-proportioned physique. Notable distinctive features include his V-shaped bearded jawline and deep-set eyes. Canelo takes great care of his body through regular exercise, contributing to his overall healthy physique. With his attractive personality and cool attitude, he captures the attention of many admirers. Álvarez, a professional boxer, undergoes intense training and follows a strict diet to maintain his strength and agility. His workouts include mitt training and jump rope exercises, while his diet consists of foods like egg whites, chicken, and fruits. Physical conditioning is crucial for him, given the tough nature of fights. He frequently shares his training sessions on Instagram, showcasing his dedication to his craft.
Canelo Álvarez, whose real name is Santos Saúl Álvarez Barragán, gained his popular nickname from his coach, Eddy Reynoso. Canelito, which translates to "Small Cinnamon" in Mexican, perfectly suits his vibrant personality and distinctive appearance. In Spanish culture, it is customary to adopt both paternal and maternal family names, and Álvarez's first name is derived from the Spanish word for "Cinnamon." Although his true name may not be as widely recognized, boxing fans and enthusiasts around the world prefer to refer to him as Canelo due to his incredible success and reputation in the sport.
Coming from a boxing family, the Alvarez siblings have a deep connection to the sport. Canelo, the youngest of his seven brothers, has become the most prominent figure in professional boxing. Rigoberto, Ricardo, and Ramon Alvarez, his older siblings, have also made their mark in the ring, with more than 30 victories each. Although not all of them had extensive careers, their contributions to the sport are notable. Ramon continues to compete, while Rigoberto has achieved the accomplishment of winning a WBA championship title. The Alvarez family's passion for prizefighting runs strong, and Canelo has carried their legacy to new heights.
In 2023, Álvarez had a cameo appearance in the film "Creed III." This marked his venture into the world of acting, showcasing his versatility beyond his boxing career. His cameo role in the movie added a touch of excitement and authenticity to the boxing-themed film, further expanding his presence in popular culture.
In addition to being a renowned boxer, Canelo Álvarez is also involved in the world of boxing promotion in Mexico. He established his own company, Canelo Promotions, in 2010, with his trainers, Chepo and Eddy Reynoso, serving as his business partners. By 2013, Canelo Promotions had become a prominent promoter, representing a roster of 40 boxers across Mexico. Álvarez's venture into promotion showcases his commitment to supporting and nurturing talent in the sport beyond his own boxing career.
Canelo Álvarez has a passion for golf and finds enjoyment in playing the sport. In 2020, he openly shared his plans to retire from boxing by the age of 37. He expressed his desire to shift his focus to his business ventures and indulge in playing golf every day during his retirement. Álvarez's intention to pursue his interests outside the boxing ring demonstrates his long-term aspirations beyond his successful career in the sport.