The history of Mexican boxing is written with names that transcend generations. Julio César Chávez, recognized as the maximum exponent of Mexican boxing, to legendary figures such as Juan Manuel Márquez, Rubén ‘Púas’ Olivares, Salvador Sánchez, Ricardo ‘Finito’ López or Carlos ‘Cañas’ Zárate, all of them have proudly brought the name of Mexico at the top of world boxing.
The Aztec domain tradition has greatly continued Saúl Álvarez, who on October 29 will celebrate a historic professional career that began with just 15 years of age, when he debuted as a professional against Abraham González. Two decades later, with a legacy founded in titles, monumental scenarios and fights that marked time, Canelo pauses to look back and recognize in that redhead teenager who dreamed of being the best in the world.
“I have achieved everything in boxing, imagine how satisfactory it is for me,” Álvarez al Times told Spanish during his reindeer camp, Nevada.
The celebration is already thought and as everything that means Canelo’s environment, will be private, but “in great.” The magnitude will possibly depend on leaving with his arms up, as in his other 63 victories, when he defends his four belts before the undefeated Terence Crawford (41-0, 31 kos) this Saturday (6 PM PT, Netflix), September 13, at the Allegant Stadium in Las Vegas.
“I turned 20 and I have achieved everything,” said the 35 -year -old Jalisco. “I think I have done very good things in boxing and I feel very proud of that child who started with that illusion of being the best in the world.”
That child, as his brother Ricardo remembers, was not different from any other teenager in Guadalajara, except for an unusual obsession, to succeed in a brutal and demanding sport. His path began in the local gyms, under the tutelage of Chepo and Eddy Reynoso, who saw in him an out of the common talent. It was there that he heard the words that would mark his destiny forever.
“‘With the talent you have, you will get to where you want’, it is what they always told me and was recorded in my mind,” Canelo recalled Chepo’s words, his coach since he was 14 years old.
Two decades later, Canelo ensures that this advice remains the message that would repeat himself if he could travel to the past. Because those words not only fed his hunger, they also gave him conviction.
Álvarez does not need to imagine what would say to that 15 -year -old teenager who debuted in 2005.
“I would only tell that child what he already knows, that ‘you are going to get to where you want,” Canelo said.
He said it then, repeat it now. Two decades later, that child not only fulfilled his promise, but overcome it. He became champion into multiple divisions, a global icon and, above all, a man who still with the glory achieved continues to look forward.
Canelo Álvarez‘s story is not only that of a boxer, but that of a dream based on discipline, sacrifice and faith. And still, as his brother Ricardo repeats, “he lacks a lot to achieve.”
Canelo’s journey has not been that of an improvised or meteoric career, but that of a project shaped with patience and discipline. Eddy, his also coach from adolescence, recalls the parallel of his early years as a constant learning process next to Canelo.
“From 2000 I started to train boxers with my dad, first amateurs and then professionals. We formed a group of children, youth, and from there Saul came out,” Eddy explained.
That connection, built in the gyms of Jalisco, was the beginning of one of the most successful doubles in boxing history. Reynoso formed inspired by figures such as Julián Magdaleno and Rafael Mendoza, coaches who instilled the ambition of being someone big in this sport.
“I always imagined being someone important in boxing,” Eddy said. “And with Saul we have achieved it.”
In two decades of career, Canelo has gain weight, stage and demand. He has done it facing champions like Miguel Cotto, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and, above all, Gennady Golovkin, with whom he freed a memorable trilogy.
Although he first fell into his career in 2013 against Mayweather Jr., it was the fight that marked the way not only as a champion but as a businessman and businessman.
However, the second fight against ‘GGG’ in September 2018 occupies a special place in the heart of Álvarez.
“It was very emotional for me for many things that were around the fight,” Canelo acknowledged. “Confirm that it was better than him, everything that had been said, was a very special moment.”
Eddy Reynoso agrees to point out that night as a climax. “I saw him very happy when he beat Golovkin in the second. Also when he beat Miguel Cotto, or even in his first fights to four rounds. Each victory has had a meaning, but that victory over ‘GGG’ was special.”
Little by little, Canelo was learning even from his own mistakes and cleaning his way to be the economic and sports power that is today. Between that tour was the fall of their relationship with Golden Boy Promotions and Óscar de la Hoya in 2020, with whom he became superstar and the bad calculation when rising to semi -marked weight and falling for the second time in his career, that time with Dmitry Bivol in 2022.
The darkest moment of his career was when in 2018 he was suspended for six months by the Nevada Athletic Commission for throwing positive for the prohibited substance Clenbuterol. According to Canelo’s team, that was due to a contaminated meat that ate during a visit to Mexico. Clenbuterol is sometimes used in the feed of cattle to increase muscle mass.
Beyond the belts, millionaire bags and fame, Canelo’s trajectory has had an unwavering support, his family, particularly in those difficult moments he lived.
“It has been a long career of 20 years,” said Ricardo, one of the six older siblings in Canelo. “We have always been united by supporting everything. It has become the boxing star, the boxing face. For us it fills us with pride and he is very proud of what he has achieved and what he lacks. He was born for this, I have always told him, he was born for this.”
The family has celebrated each triumph and accompanied in each obstacle. For them, the fight against Crawford is not only a sports challenge, but a collective celebration.
“We are going to celebrate with great happiness, with the family, more than anything together, with friends and team. All together, as always,” Ricardo said.
In the memory of the Álvarez there are moments that define family history, anecdotes that function as symbols of everything that was to come. Ricardo recalled one of them with special clarity, the night they went to the cinema to watch Cinderella Man, the 2005 film about James J. Braddock, the boxer who challenged the great depression to fight for a world title.
Upon leaving the room, Ricardo released his younger brother a question: “Can you imagine that one day you fight in such a stage?”
Canelo remembered what his brother answered: “He wanted to get ahead like that boxer, but with a different end, fighting in world championships, on the biggest stages. And I already did.”
With a forged race in legendary sands such as Madison Square Garden, the MGM Grand and the T-Mobile Arena de Las Vegas, the memory becomes prophetic.
“Now that we have talked after all those years, he tells me: ‘And what do you think? I have already fought in the best stages.” And yes, he has achieved everything, “said Ricardo.
Saturday’s stage will be monumental: the Allegiant Stadium of Las Vegas, Casa de los Raiders and one of the most modern real estate in world sport. There Crawford awaits it, considered by many the best pound for today.
For Eddy, this fight represents a clash of styles and powers.
“There is a very large fight between two of the best world powers, the Mexican and the African -American. We are going to show that the Mexican school is the best,” said Eddy.
Ricardo also recognizes the magnitude of the challenge: “[Canelo] He has had big fights, with Cotto, Golovkin, Mayweather. But what this fight implies does feel in the environment. It is the greatest today and I am sure that people will surprise. ”
Canelo, meanwhile, assumes it serenity.
“It means a lot for me to continue being in big fights, in a stadium as important as the Allegiant. I am happy and excited to be there,” Canelo said.
It is not yet clear how Canelo will celebrate on October 29 beyond the ring.
“I am very proud of what I have achieved and here we continue. Here we continue in the big fights after 20 years, celebrating.”
Eddy visualizes the celebration with a resounding triumph.
“We are going to win this fight for knockout and then we are going to play a great party in Mexico,” said the coach.
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