THE LEGACY OF AZTEC BOXING
Has Canelo created his own era? “Canelo has written his own era, and all he’s missing now is one huge fight. I admire Canelo a lot. I care for him. He is the number one and he’s been there for a long time.” Carlos Zárate, IBHOF induction: 1994 What does it take to become a Mexican boxing legend? “Above all, you have to win fights, be a complete figure, treat the fans well and, most importantly, prove yourself in the ring. “I thank God for giving me the gift of becoming a champion, for letting me be part of this sport and, most importantly, for allowing me to succeed and show people that I was born for this. It’s something very big, very beautiful, and you can’t let it go to your head, because everything depends on the fans. Becoming a complete figure is a gift from God.” Is Canelo a legend of Mexican boxing? “Well, there’s a lot of talk about Canelo because he’s the boxer of the moment, but his legitimacy as a champion has been widely debated. There’s been a lot of criticism – some say he ‘buys’ his opponents. Still, he’s a world champion, and if that doesn’t make him a real champion – even as the number one – then maybe he’s the number one in terms of money. And that’s OK, because that’s what we fight for, and he’s done it well. “But I think in the ring he still needs to prove a little more. Not that he lacks anything – he has a lot – but he’s just short of fully achieving that legendary status. “Honestly, as a fighter, he’s shown that he puts it all on the line in the ring. But I think he’s more of an idol to women than to men, and this is a
toughman’s sport.”
Olympics, my father, who was also my friend, gave me great advice. He told me: ‘When you go out to fight, don’t cross yourself or do anything religious, because the whole world will be watching, and many people will be of different religions. So your faith should be in yourself.’” Is Canelo a legend of Mexican boxing? “When I came back from Moscow, the legends who came before me were on their way out, and it was my turn to receive the torch of Mexican boxing
“I’ve never liked making top 10 or top five all-time lists, because there are so many fighters who deserve to be on those lists. Honestly, top 10 isn’t enough for Mexican boxing. Mine would be more like a top 15, because you can’t leave many of them out. Still, to answer your question directly, Canelo definitely belongs among the top five in Mexican boxing history. But I can’t take out fighters like ‘Finito’ [Ricardo Lopez], Olivares, Zárate, Sánchez, Barrera or Morales when measuring greatness – and I’m surely forgetting some others as well.” Has Canelo created his own era? “Definitely, yes. Canelo has written his own era.” Humberto González, IBHOF induction: 2006 What does it take to become a Mexican boxing legend? “Well, like with everything, you have to keep fighting and winning and winning, because losing doesn’t help you. I think it’s about winning and about making sure people leave happy wherever you fought. They should come to watch you and enjoy your style. “Fans always leave the arena feeling excited after a good fight – or sometimes angry, because that’s how criticism works. Ultimately, people have to decide whether I’m number one or not. “When I fought, I always put myself in God’s hands. I would say I wanted to win and that just as I climbed into the ring with all my senses intact, I wanted both of us to come out the same way. Boxing is a jealous sport – it’s tough. But you have to give it your all and always prepare properly. “I also used to look up to greats like Carlos Zárate, Olivares and Chávez. They were my role models.” Is Canelo a legend of Mexican boxing? “I know Canelo well, and yes, he keeps rising. Right now, he keeps taking
more and more fights, and that’s what you always want as a fighter. And the opponents he’s had haven’t been easy, either. Even when people call a fighter ‘easy,’ that so-called easy one can beat you. So, there are no easy opponents. To me, Canelo is an idol.” Where does Canelo rank in Mexican boxing history? “Canelo is among the best regardless of where you place him. Whether you say he’s number one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10 – Canelo is in there. People will keep talking about Canelo because he’ll always be part of boxing history. So whatever number you rank him, Canelo will always be there, and we’ll always remember him.” World Championship Fight Comparison Before we move on to Canelo, it’s important to examine a cold but telling metric of greatness: how many world title fights each legend had and their records in those bouts.
and light heavyweight – an incredible accomplishment for Mexican fighters, who have historically dominated the lighter weight classes. Despite his short frame (no taller than 5-foot-8), Canelo has defeated respected champions like Gennadiy Golovkin, Daniel Jacobs, Miguel Cotto, Sergey Kovalev, Caleb Plant and Billy Joe Saunders. His only two losses were to one of the greatest in boxing history, Floyd Mayweather Jr., and the current undisputed light heavyweight champ, Dmitry Bivol. He evolved from a raw, offense- heavy prospect into a masterful counterpuncher, with elite distance control and ruthless body shots. Canelo has become a highly technical fighter with unmatched discipline, earning admiration from many and resentment from others. Criticism has followed him – claims of handpicked opponents, controversial decisions and a failed drug test in 2018 have brought out detractors over the years. Yet Canelo never ran or hid from scorn. He kept fighting – and winning. Is he Julio César Chávez? No. And he’s never claimed to be. Canelo has written his own story while honoring those who came before him. And often alone, he’s carried the legacy of Mexican boxing on his back. Canelo has crafted his own legacy – and has become the global face of boxing. Whether history places him above or below Mexico’s greatest legends, one thing is clear: Álvarez didn’t avoid history. He faced it – punch by punch, challenge by challenge. On September 13, he’ll take on one of the toughest tests of his career. Deep into his professional journey, Canelo will face the undefeated Terence Crawford – an undisputed champion in two weight classes and one of the most skilled fighters of this era. On Mexican Independence weekend, it’s Mexico vs. the U.S., a 168-pound showdown with all titles on the line. When it happens, there will be no doubt: We'll be watching the man who is writing the latest chapter of Mexican boxing history.
Where does Canelo rank in Mexican boxing history? “I think he should retire first. But if Canelo were to retire today, he’d have to be among the greats of Mexican boxing – at least in the top five. “I would describe Canelo as a surprising, crowd-drawing figure who became a champion and, at the same time, a controversial one. He hasn’t quite lived up to what people expected of him, but then again it’s not easy to
Fighter
Title Fights
Record
Julio César Chávez Marco Antonio Barrera
37 28 26 23 16
31-4-2 (21 KOs) 23-5 (13 KOs) 23-2-1 (11 KOs) 18-5 (11 KOs) 10-5-1 (3 KOs)
Canelo Álvarez Érik Morales
Juan Manuel Márquez
Source: BoxRec.com Is Canelo on the level of Mexico’s greatest legends? In a nation where boxing is part of the cultural DNA, being Mexico’s top fighter isn’t just a title – it’s a historic burden. It means being compared to Chávez, Sánchez, Márquez, Morales and Barrera. It means not just fighting opponents in the ring but also battling the ghosts of boxing legends and striving to stand beside the immortals. Álvarez has achieved feats few ever imagined: world titles in four divisions – junior middleweight, middleweight, super middleweight
win the recognition of everybody. Still, when you really look at him, he’s a good fighter.” Daniel Zaragoza, IBHOF induction: 2004 What does it take to become a Mexican boxing legend? “First and foremost, attitude. Then aptitude and an enormous passion for boxing. When I went to the [1980]
– something that never ends in our sport. In a way, boxing is like a religion in Mexico. Canelo lacks nothing. His career has been long and successful, and with all that he’s accomplished and continues to achieve, he’ll always be remembered – for better or worse, no matter what. But without a doubt, he is the most controversial fighter in the history of Mexican boxing.” Where does Canelo rank in Mexican boxing history?
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