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Saúl Álvarez

'canelo'

Nation

mexico

Date of birth

july 18, 1990 (33 Years Old)

Height

5 ft 8.5 (174 cm)

Reach

70.5 in (179 cm)

Wins

61

Losses

2

draws

2

Ko's

39

saul alvarez bio

Saúl Álvarez

'canelo'

Nation

mexico

DATE OF BIRTH​

july 18, 1990 (33 Years Old)

Height

5 ft 8.5 (174 cm)

REACH​

70.5 in (179 cm)

wins

61

Losses

2

draws

2

ko's

39

Titles Won

WBA (regular) world super middleweight

WBA (super) world middleweight + super middleweight

WBA (unified) world junior middleweight

WBC world super middleweight + Middleweight (2x) + junior middleweight

WBO world Light Heavyweight + super middleweight + Junior Middleweight

IBF world super middleweight + middleweight

The Ring lineal super middleweight + Middleweight (2x) + junior middleweight

WBCNABF welterweight

WBC silver junior middleweight

WBA fedecentro welterweight

WBO latino welterweight

jalisco welterweight

Titles Won

WBA (regular) world super middleweight

WBA (super) world middleweight + super middleweight

WBA (unified) world junior middleweight

WBC world super middleweight + Middleweight (2x) + junior middleweight

WBO world Light Heavyweight + super middleweight + Junior Middleweight

IBF world super middleweight + middleweight

The Ring lineal super middleweight + Middleweight (2x) + junior middleweight

WBCNABF welterweight

WBC silver junior middleweight

WBA fedecentro welterweight

WBO latino welterweight

jalisco welterweight

Background

Fighting out of his home country in Mexico, Saúl Álvarez had around 46 fights during his amateur career, losing only twice. He won several Mexican national championships over the course of his career. [1]

Despite being underage, Saúl Álvarez had a very early pro debut when he had his first bout in 2005 at just the age of fifteen.

saul alvarez background

Accomplishments

With a stoppage victory over his opponent on his debut, Saúl Álvarez first match would herald the coming of a new future legend in the sport of boxing. Álvarez – often nicknamed ‘Canelo’ or ‘cinnamon’ for his red-colored hair – would become one of the youngest world champions in history when he would beat Matthew Hatton, younger brother of acclaimed British boxer Ricky Hatton, by unanimous decision to win the WBC Junior Middleweight title in 2011.

Saúl Álvarez continued to build himself an unbeatable resume where veterans such as Shane Mosley and prime fighters such as Austin Trout would count amongst his beaten list of opponents, the latter of whom he would unify his titles with for the first time of his career. In 2013 he earned himself a blockbuster match to unify against Floyd Mayweather Jr., btut the American fighter beat him soundly by majority decision.

Saúl Álvarez would continue his career as a force, moving up or down depending on the fight and the challenge. His most esteemed fighter after Mayweather proved to be Gennady Golovkin who he faced three times and managed to beat twice, with their last fight ending their rivalry in September of 2022. 

Between 2018 and 2021, Canelo Álvarez had a successful run in the Super Middleweight division where he was eventually crowned Undisputed after beating several champions to claim that status, amongst them Rocky Fielding, Callum Smith, Billy Joe Saunders and Caleb Plant.

In May of 2022, Álvarez suffered a stunning upset UD loss to Dmitry Bivol when he fought the Russian at Light-Heavyweight. After his third match with Golovkin in September, Álvarez faced the WBO interim champion at 168 lbs, John Ryder, and coursed to an easy unanimous decision win.

On September 30th, Canelo Alvarez faced Jermell Charlo (who moved up two weight classes from 154 lbs) to record another dominant victory by UD. On May 4th in 2024, Alvarez defended his titles for the third time since becoming undisputed against Jaime Munguia, and Alvarez went on to record another unanimous decision win after soundly defeating his countryman.

Boxing Style

saul alvarez boxing style

Saúl Álvarez is one of boxing’s most entertaining and accomplished fighters, owing to his reputation as one of the most effective counterpunchers in the sport, and relentless pressure fighters. He often uses both styles interchangeably – to great success – beating amongst the best fighters in his division.

His pressure style of fighting is mostly credited to the ‘Mexican style’ of boxing which often forces a fighter to adopt a come-forward style of boxing. He has also been credited for his defensive skills – most prominently the use of his head and body movement – and his jab, footwork and ability to set traps, a testament to his IQ in the ring.