Mexican · Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico · Born 18 July 1990Canelo Álvarez is a Mexican boxer who has won world titles in four weight classes and became the first undisputed super middleweight champion in 2021.
Santos Saúl 'Canelo' Álvarez Barragán, born July 18, 1990, in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, is widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound boxer of his generation and the most commercially successful Mexican fighter since Oscar De La Hoya. The youngest of eight siblings in a family of professional boxers, Canelo turned professional at just 15 years old in 2005, showcasing red hair (giving him the nickname 'Canelo,' meaning 'cinnamon') and precocious talent. His early career saw rapid progression through the super welterweight division, winning his first world title (WBC super welterweight) in March 2011 by defeating Matthew Hatton. After suffering his first professional defeat to Floyd Mayweather Jr. via majority decision in September 2013, Canelo embarked on a career-defining evolution that would see him dominate multiple weight classes. His championship record includes capturing world titles at super welterweight (154 lbs), middleweight (160 lbs), super middleweight (168 lbs), and light heavyweight (175 lbs). Canelo's notable victories include defeating Miguel Cotto (November 2015), Gennady Golovkin twice in their epic rivalry (September 2017 draw, September 2018 majority decision), moving up to knock out WBA light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev in November 2019, and becoming the first-ever undisputed super middleweight champion in November 2021 by defeating Caleb Plant to unify all four major belts (WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO). His professional record stands at 61-2-2 with 39 knockouts, and he received a six-month suspension in 2018 after testing positive for clenbuterol, which was attributed to contaminated Mexican meat. Canelo's $365 million DAZN contract signed in 2018 was the richest individual sports media deal in history at the time. His combination of technical boxing skill, devastating body punching, exceptional chin, and massive commercial appeal have made him the face of boxing in the 2020s and cemented his legacy as one of Mexico's greatest sporting icons. Álvarez suffered a unanimous-decision defeat to Terence Crawford in September 2025, losing his super-middleweight crown in one of the biggest fights of the decade. He agreed a four-fight deal with Riyadh Season in early 2026 and was scheduled to return against WBC super-middleweight champion Christian Mbilli in October 2026.
First boxer to become undisputed champion in the four-belt era at super middleweight
How They Played
Counter-puncher with excellent body work and ring IQ
Lasting Impact
One of boxing's biggest stars and highest-paid athletes
Career Honours
- First undisputed champion of the four-belt era, super middleweight, 2021
- two-time undisputed super middleweight champion 2025
Mexican Athletes