Alvarez defeats William Scull to become the undisputed super middleweight champion at Anb Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 4/5/2025. Photo: Reuters

Alvarez defeats William Scull to become the undisputed super middleweight champion at Anb Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 4/5/2025. Photo: Reuters

Canelo Alvarez, whose real name is Santos Saul Alvarez Barragan, was born in 1990 in Juanacatlan, a small town of about 10,000 people in Jalisco, Mexico. The youngest of eight siblings, six of whom were boys, Alvarez grew up helping his family with their farm and small ice cream business.

From the age of 6, he was already lending a hand. "I enjoyed selling ice cream," Alvarez told The Sun before his upcoming fight with Terence Crawford in the US this week. "My father and family still sell it. Now, I'm happy to be doing what I love, and fortunately, I've never forgotten my roots. My father taught me how to work, to respect work, and to live honestly. That's what made me who I am today."

Unlike other Mexican children, Alvarez stood out with his bright red hair and freckled face. His friends nicknamed him "Canelo," meaning "cinnamon," and often teased and bullied him.

Once, while playing soccer, a classmate punched him in the face, making him cry. But he didn't give up. "I remember that punch very well. It changed everything," Alvarez recounted on Piers Morgan's show. "From being bullied, I felt I had to defend myself. I was different; I was the red-haired, freckled kid. But I didn't want anyone to offend me, so I fought back."

From then on, the once-bullied boy found joy and talent in brawls before entering the boxing gym, a familiar place for his older brothers.

Canelo Alvarez was a national amateur champion before turning professional. Photo: Sun

Canelo Alvarez was a national amateur champion before turning professional. Photo: Sun

After a brief amateur career, Alvarez turned professional in 2005 at the age of 15. His pay for his debut was just 40 USD. After deducting the cost of tickets for his family, he had only 20 USD left. "But I was still happy," the Mexican boxer recalled. "I love boxing. I don't do it for the money, but for the passion."

However, the meager earnings sometimes discouraged the teenager. His brother Gonzalo said: "Canelo once considered quitting boxing. He would fight and earn 40 USD, and sometimes he was even paid with tickets to sell himself. If he could sell them, he would have money; if not, it was all for nothing. Canelo once said he wanted to quit to work and earn money to buy a car. I had to encourage him: 'You have something rare, you're a red-haired Mexican boxer, and you're good. You'll be a champion, you'll make history.'"

That advice kept Canelo going. Six years later, at 20, he defeated Matthew Hatton, Ricky Hatton's younger brother, to win his first world title (WBC light middleweight).

From that victory, Canelo's career skyrocketed. He became one of boxing's biggest draws, a four-division champion, and the highest-paid boxer globally, with his fights broadcast on pay-per-view worldwide.

Alvarez turned professional at 15 and once considered quitting boxing because he couldn't afford a car. Photo: Sun

Alvarez turned professional at 15 and once considered quitting boxing because he couldn't afford a car. Photo: Sun

However, success came with tragedy. In 2018, just before his fight against Rocky Fielding, a relative was kidnapped. "For three days, I had to negotiate directly with the kidnappers to release my brother," the Mexican boxer recounted. "Then I still had to fight, still answer thousands of interviews, as if nothing had happened. But the truth is, nothing is easy in this life."

That same year, Alvarez tested positive for clenbuterol, a banned substance that helps build muscle and reduce fat, while preparing for his rematch with Gennady Golovkin. The Mexican boxer was suspended for six months but claimed the result stemmed from eating contaminated beef, a problem in Mexico. Although he later returned to defeat Golovkin, Alvarez still faced doping suspicions.

"Those who don't want to believe won't believe, no matter how much evidence I provide," he said. "They'll believe what they want to believe, and I don't care anymore."

Canelo defeated Rocky Fielding in 2018, the same week his brother was kidnapped. Photo: EPA

Canelo defeated Rocky Fielding in 2018, the same week his brother was kidnapped. Photo: EPA

In his career, Alvarez has lost only two fights. The first was against Floyd Mayweather in 2013, when he was only 23 and lacked the experience to fight the American defensive master. The second was in 2022 when he faced light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol and lost after 12 rounds. In between were three classic bouts with Golovkin, where Canelo drew one and won two, shaping both fighters' careers.

Alvarez is now 34, a father of four, and still one of boxing's biggest stars. But he understands that all achievements come with sweat, tears, and even danger.

Alvarez's next opponent is Terence Crawford at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, on 13/9. Crawford is also a renowned fighter, undefeated in 40 professional fights, with 31 knockouts. The American boxer has been a champion from lightweight (59-61.2 kg) to welterweight (63.5-66.7 kg) and is now stepping up to super middleweight (73-76 kg) for the first time to challenge Alvarez, the undisputed champion in this weight class.

"This is a very special fight, with two great fighters of this generation meeting," Alvarez emphasized. "I believe this will be the biggest fight in years."

Hong Duy (The Sun)