With just six weeks to go before his eagerly awaited showdown against Terence Crawford at Allegiant Stadium, undisputed champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has not only started his training with intensity, but has also offered a revealing look at his past. In a recent interview with Ring Magazine, the Mexican icon opened up about the opponents who have marked his career and surprisingly, he gave top marks to three of them, including two of the only men who have defeated him in the ring.
Clips of Canelo jogging alone went viral, evidencing the seriousness with which he is facing what could be one of the most challenging fights of his career. Crawford, a formidable boxer moving up two weight classes, possesses a combination of technique and power that could test Canelo like never before. A victory would elevate his legacy, however, a loss at this stage of his career could be a significant blow.
Canelo’s three big mentions
Canelo’s sincerity was evident when he was asked to rate some of his past opponents. The first name on his list was Gennady Golovkin, with whom he had three unforgettable fights. Without hesitation, Canelo gave ‘Triple G’ a perfect score of 10 out of 10. “Because he’s a complete fighter. Strong and has it all, a good boxing IQ,” explained Alvarez.
The surprising part came afterwards. When the name of Dmitry Bivol appeared, the boxer who inflicted his second professional defeat at 175 pounds, Canelo again gave a resounding 10 out of 10, admitting that the Russian-Kyrgyz champion “also has it all”. His demeanor, which had been relaxed when talking about other opponents, changed noticeably when recalling these battles.
Finally, the name of Floyd Mayweather came up, who gave Canelo his first defeat in 2013. Canelo paused, smiled and replied: “10/10”. And added: “You know, I don’t need to explain”, a nod to the masterclass Mayweather gave him back then.
The importance of knowing how to lose in order to win
Canelo’s humility is worthy of recognition. Unlike many champions, he understands that his defeats have been fundamental in shaping both his career and his legacy. The loss to Mayweather in 2013 is seen by many as the catalyst that ignited the hunger in him to seek true greatness. For the next nine years, Canelo remained undefeated, moving up in weight and unifying titles.
Time passes and Canelo knows that he must be more and more prepared, so the fight against Crawford is taken very seriously and with the usual humility. Another great challenge is coming, but Alvarez does not forget his past or the defeats that forged him as one of the greatest.
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