RENO, Nevada — The historical past of Mexican boxing options names that transcend generations. From Julio César Chávez, acknowledged as the head of Mexican boxing, to legendary figures resembling Juan Manuel Márquez, Rubén ‘Púas’ Olivares, Salvador Sánchez, Ricardo ‘Finito’ López and Carlos ‘Cañas’ Zárate — all have proudly carried the title of Mexican flag to the height of the boxing world.
The custom of Aztec dominance has been continued in a giant means by Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez, who on Oct. 29 will have fun a historic 20-year skilled profession that started when he was simply 15 years previous, when he made his skilled debut towards Abraham González. Twenty years later, with a legacy constructed on titles and massive levels, Álvarez paused to mirror on his growth from red-headed teenager who dreamed of being the very best on this planet to the present king of Mexican boxing with 63 victories.
Canelo Álvarez, left; UFC CEO Dana White, middle; and Terence Crawford, proper, converse throughout a information convention at at T-Cellular Area on June 27.
(David Becker / Getty Photos for Netflix)
“I’ve achieved all the pieces in boxing, think about how satisfying that’s for me,” Álvarez advised L.A. Instances en Español throughout his coaching camp in Reno, Nev.
The celebration has already been deliberate and, like all the pieces else involving Álvarez, it is going to be non-public however “on a grand scale.” The magnitude will possible depend upon whether or not he emerges victorious when he defends his 4 belts towards the undefeated Terence Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) Saturday (6 p.m., Netflix), at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
“I feel I’ve executed some actually good issues in boxing and I’m very happy with that child who began out with the dream of being the very best on this planet,” stated the 35-year-old from Jalisco.
That child, as his brother, Ricardo, remembers, was no totally different from some other teen in Guadalajara, aside from an uncommon obsession: to reach a brutal and demanding sport. His journey started in native gyms, below the tutelage of Chepo Reynoso and his son, Eddy, who noticed extraordinary potential. It was there that Canelo Álvarez heard the phrases that may eternally mark his future.
Boxer Canelo Álvarez, middle, poses alongside his trainers Chepo Reynoso, left, and Eddy Reynoso, proper, at MGM Grand in Las Vegas in 2018.
(Ethan Miller / Getty Photos)
“‘With the expertise you have got, you’ll get wherever you need to go,’ is what they all the time advised me, and it caught in my thoughts,” Canelo stated, recalling his early days with Chepo, his coach since he was 14 years previous.
Twenty years later, Canelo says that recommendation remains to be the message he would repeat to himself if he might journey again in time. As a result of these phrases not solely fueled his starvation, they gave him conviction.
“I might simply inform that child what he already is aware of, that ‘you’re going to get wherever you need to go,’” Canelo stated.
Twenty years later, that child not solely fulfilled his promise, however exceeded it. He turned a champion in a number of divisions, a worldwide icon and, above all, a person who continues to look forward.
The story of Canelo Álvarez is not only that of a boxer, however of a dream fulfilled by self-discipline, sacrifice and religion. And but, as Ricardo usually says, “he nonetheless has an extended method to go.”
Canelo’s journey has not been improvised or meteoric, however slightly a mission formed by endurance and self-discipline. Eddy, who has additionally been Canelo’s coach since adolescence, remembers continually studying alongside Canelo.
“In 2000, I began coaching boxers with my dad — first amateurs after which professionals. We shaped a gaggle of children and youngsters, and that’s the place Saúl got here from,” Eddy stated.
That connection, solid within the gyms of Jalisco, was the start of one of the profitable partnerships in boxing historical past. Eddy was impressed by figures resembling Julián Magdaleno and Rafael Mendoza, coaches who instilled in him the ambition to be somebody nice within the sport.
Canelo Alvarez celebrates along with his household after defeating John Ryder at Akron Stadium in 2023 in Zapopan, Mexico.
(Hector Vivas / Getty Photos)
“I all the time imagined myself being somebody necessary in boxing,” Eddy stated. “And with Saúl, we’ve achieved that.”
In his two-decade profession, Canelo has moved up in weight class, stage and demand. He has executed so by going through Miguel Cotto, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Gennady Golovkin, towards whom he fought a memorable trilogy.
Though he suffered his first profession defeat in 2013 towards Mayweather, it was the battle that paved the best way for his success not solely as a champion, but additionally as an entrepreneur and businessman.
Nonetheless, it’s the second battle towards Golovkin in September 2018 that holds a particular place in Canelo’s coronary heart.
“It was very emotional for me due to many issues surrounding the battle,” Canelo stated. “Confirming that I used to be higher than him, all the pieces that had been stated. [It] was a really particular second.”
Eddy agrees that that night time was a excessive level.
“I noticed him very comfortable when he beat Golovkin within the second spherical. Additionally, when he beat Miguel Cotto, and even in his early four-round fights. Each win has had that means, however that victory over ‘GGG’ was particular.”
Little by little, Canelo discovered from his errors and cleared his path to grow to be the financial and sporting powerhouse he’s as we speak. Alongside the best way, he fell out with Golden Boy Promotions and Oscar De La Hoya in 2020, with whom he first turned a famous person, and made a miscalculation by shifting as much as gentle heavyweight and shedding for the second time in his profession, this time to Dmitry Bivol in 2022.
The darkest second of his profession got here in 2018 when he was suspended for six months by the Nevada Athletic Fee for testing optimistic for the banned substance clenbuterol. Based on Canelo’s staff, this was due to contaminated meat he ate throughout a go to to Mexico. Clenbuterol is usually utilized in cattle feed to extend muscle mass.
Past the belts, the million-dollar purses and the celebrity, Canelo’s profession has been supported by his unwavering household, significantly in the course of the troublesome occasions.
“It’s been an extended 20-year profession,” stated Ricardo, one in every of Canelo’s six older brothers. “We’ve all the time been united in supporting him. He’s grow to be the star of boxing, the face of boxing. We’re very happy with him, and he’s very happy with what he’s achieved and what he nonetheless has to attain. He was born for this, I’ve all the time advised him, he was born for this.”
The household has celebrated each victory and accompanied him by each impediment. For them, the battle towards Crawford is not only a sporting problem, it’s additionally a household reunion.
“We’re going to have fun with nice happiness, with the household, greater than the rest united, with buddies and staff. All collectively, as all the time,” stated Ricardo.
Canelo Alvarez hits Jaime Munguia throughout an excellent middleweight title battle on Could 4, 2024, in Las Vegas.
(John Locher / Related Press)
Within the Álvarez household’s reminiscence, there are moments that outline their historical past, anecdotes that function symbols of all the pieces that was to come back. Ricardo remembered one in every of them with specific readability: the night time they went to the films to see “Cinderella Man,” the 2005 movie about James J. Braddock, the boxer who persevered in the course of the Nice Despair and fought for a world title.
As they left the room, Ricardo requested his youthful brother, “Are you able to think about preventing on a stage like that at some point?”
Canelo recalled telling his brother: “I needed to succeed like that boxer, however with a special ending, preventing in world championships on the largest levels.”
With a profession that has taken Canelo to Madison Sq. Backyard, the MGM Grand and T-Cellular Area in Las Vegas, Canelo acknowledges he made the aim come true.
“Now that we’ve talked about it in any case these years, he says to me, ‘And what do you suppose? I’ve already fought on the very best levels.’ And sure, he’s achieved all the pieces,” Ricardo stated.
Canelo Álvarez, left, with brother, Ricardo.
(HANDOUT / INSTAGRAM)
Saturday’s setting will as soon as once more be monumental: Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Awaiting him there might be Crawford, who is taken into account by many to be the very best pound-for-pound fighter as we speak.
For Eddy, this battle represents a conflict of kinds and energy.
“An enormous battle is coming between two of the world’s best powerhouses, Mexico and america. We’re going to indicate that the Mexican college is the very best,” Eddy stated.
Ricardo additionally acknowledges the magnitude of the problem: “[Canelo] has had huge fights, with Cotto, Golovkin, Mayweather. However you possibly can really feel what this battle means within the ambiance. It’s the largest battle as we speak, and I’m certain it’s going to shock individuals.”
Canelo, for his half, takes it in stride.
“It means lots to me to proceed preventing in huge fights, in a stadium as necessary as Allegiant,” he stated. “I’m comfortable and excited to be there.”
It’s nonetheless unclear how precisely Canelo will have fun Oct. 29 and his 20 years of boxing.
Eddy envisions becoming a member of the celebration with a convincing victory.
“We’re going to win this battle by knockout,” Eddy guarantees, “after which we’re going to have a giant social gathering in Mexico.”
This article first appeared in Spanish through L.A. Instances en Español.
