Saul Canelo Alvarez

Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez is a Mexican boxer. After turning professional when he was just 15 years old, Alvarez has gone on to win multiple world championships in four weight classes, from light middleweight to light heavyweight.

The 32-year-old was born in Guadalajara, Mexico and he grew up on his family’s farm.

He started boxing when he was around 13 years old and turned professional just two years later, showing impressive promise as a youngster.

Since then, he has gone on to establish himself as boxing’s current global superstar, winning 57 of his 61 total fights, 39 by KO.

With Alvarez having developed into one of the sport’s great fighters, it’s no surprise that he is currently ranked as one of the highest-paid athletes on the planet. According to multiple sources online, Canelo’s net worth stood at roughly $180m in 2022.

So, what do we know about Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez’s journey to becoming the talented boxer he is today? This is his story.

Early Life, Family And Upbringing

Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez (full name: Santos Saul Alvarez Barragan) was born on 18 July 1990 in Guadalajara, Mexico, to parents Santos and Ana Maria. Canelo’s father owns three ice cream parlours, and his parents run a family farm.

Alvarez is the youngest of seven brothers, all of whom have boxed and were raised on their family’s farm. His brothers are named Ramon, Ricardo, Rigoberto, Gonzalo, Victor and Daniel.

Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez pictured with family, in 2016 (Photo: @canelo / Twitter)

Early Career

After showing a strong interest in boxing thanks to his brothers’ background in the sport, Alvarez dropped out of school to pursue a career as a fighter full time.

He won the silver medal at the Mexican Junior Championships and went on to win the gold the following year, at the age of 15.

He turned professional when he was just 15 years old and it is reported that in his first 19 professional months Alvarez fought 13 opponents who were all significantly older than him, and knocked out 11 of them. However, it has also been claimed that Alvarez also won 10 other pro fights that were undocumented.

Pro Career

Canelo went on to notch up an impressive record in the ring. He has won multiple world titles in four different weight classes – from light middleweight to light heavyweight. In the early years of his career, he beat the likes of Ryan Rhodes, Austin Trout and Shane Mosley.

His first defeat came at the hands of Floyd Mayweather in September 2013 in what was his 17th documented professional fight. The judges scored the fight 114-114, 116-112, 117-111, leaving Mayweather to pocket upwards of $45m (£26.1m) for his efforts, with the fight going down as the most lucrative pay-per-view show in history at the time.

Canelo Alvarez (Photo: GQ / YouTube / Screengrab)

Speaking after losing to Mayweather, Alvarez – who was undefeated in his 43 previous fights – said: “He’s a great fighter. He’s very experienced, very intelligent, very elusive, it’s as simple as that. The frustration was getting to me. I just didn’t know how to catch him.”

“You have to accept it, it’s boxing,” Alvarez said afterwards. “He’s a great champion. Sometimes in boxing you win and lose and I’m not giving excuses. I lost and he won.”

Net Worth, Earnings And Salary

Unsurprisingly, Canelo’s success in the ring has earned him impressive amounts of money during his career, from both salary and endorsements.

However, as is the case with most sports stars and celebrities, there is no ‘official’ figure for Canelo’s net worth. That being said, plenty of online media outlets have attempted to estimate the net worth of Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.

Meanwhile, in 2022, Forbes reported that Canelo had earned a total of $90m (£74m) in one year from salary and endorsements. Of that number, $85m (£69.8m) is believed to have come from his winnings and salary, while the remaining $4m (£3.2m) came from sponsorships and endorsements. He also earned $40m or more from his two pay-per-view victories in 2021.

Canelo Alvarez (Photo: @canelo / Instagram(

Elsewhere, Spanish newspaper AS have estimated that from 2018 to 2021, Canelo earned $220m (£179.8m) from his fights and endorsements. In 2018, Canelo signed a five-year $365m (£298.3m) contract with Golden Boy and DAZN.

Life Away From The Boxing Ring

Given his red hair, one might be forgiven for thinking that Alvarez, whose mother also has red hair, has an Irish connection in his heritage. According an article in The Telegraph back in 2016, Alvarez has said of his complexion that: “there might have been an Irish grandfather somewhere back in the past”.

Away from boxing, Alvarez enjoys horse-riding as a way to relax. He explained: “Riding is just a hobby for me and I’m out on the horse mainly at weekends but I like to go out on horseback after my fights, out into the open countryside, where there are no people, and just relax, with a few friends,” he explained. “We make a fire, cook, and sleep out under the stars. It’s a great feeling.”

Canelo Alvarez with his wife Fernanda Gomez (Photo: @fernandagmtz / Instagram)

Alvarez married his long-term girlfriend Fernanda Gomez in May 2021, in a ceremony held in Guadalajara in Mexico. His wife regularly shares photos of the couple enjoying some downtime on her Instagram profile.

Sponsorships And Business Ventures

Canelo has a lucrative partnership with Hennessy and owns a taco restaurant chain. He also heads Canelo Promotions, which is putting together fights in Mexico in partnership with Matchroom Boxing and DAZN.

In July 2021, Canelo officially unveiled his project for a new gas station brand in Mexico called ‘Canelo Energy’.

What Have Others Said?

Don Chargin, the promoter and consultant to Golden Boy promotions, speaking about his first impressions of Canelo: “Alvarez had an X-factor, the same charisma I’d seen in others over the years. He had great poise, threw a great body shot, and was mature beyond his years. He’s quick, bright, needs to speak the English language better, but this kid’s going to be one one of the great stars of the sport.”

Floyd Mayweather, speaking after beating Alvarez by majority decision in September 2013: “I take my hat off him. Mexico has had some great champions and Canelo is a true champion. I just listened to my dad, he had a great game plan, take my time.”

Dmitry Bivol, speaking after beating Alvarez in May 2022: “I’m glad I proved myself, I’m the best in my division and I keep this belt. He’s a great champion, I respect him and all his team. If you don’t believe in yourself what do you do? You achieve nothing. I believe and my team believed in me. I felt his power. You can see on my arm, he beat my arm up but not my head. That’s better.”

Canelo Alvarez (Photo: GQ / YouTube / Screengrab)

Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez’s Professional Boxing Record

17 September 2022 vs Gennady Golovkin
7 May 2022 Dmitry Bivol defeated Canelo Alvarez by unanimous decision
6 November 2021 Canelo Alvarez defeated Caleb Plant by 11th-round TKO
5 May 2021 Canelo Alvarez defeated Billy Joe Saunders by eighth-round RTD
27 February 2021 Canelo Alvarez defeated Avni Yildirim by third-round RTD
19 December 2020 Canelo Alvarez defeated Callum Smith by unanimous decision
2 November 2019 Canelo Alvarez defeated Sergey Kovalev by 11th-round KO
4 May 2019 Canelo Alvarez defeated Daniel Jacobs by unanimous decision
15 December 2018 Canelo Alvarez defeated Rocky Fielding by third-round TKO
15 September 2018 Canelo Alvarez defeated Gennadiy Golovkin by majority decision
16 September 2017 Canelo Alvarez and Gennadiy Golovkin, split draw
6 May 2017 Canelo Alvarez defeated Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. by unanimous decision
17 September 2016 Canelo Alvarez defeated Liam Smith by ninth-round KO
7 May 2016 Canelo Alvarez defeated Amir Khan by sixth-round KO
21 November 2015 Canelo Alvarez defeated Miguel Cotto by unanimous decision
9 May 2015 Canelo Alvarez defeated James Kirkland by third-round KO
12 July 2014 Canelo Alvarez defeated Erislandy Lara by split decision
8 March 2014 Canelo Alvarez defeated Alfredo Angulo by 10th-round TKO
14 September 2013 Floyd Mayweather defeated Canelo Alvarez by majority decision
20 April 2013 Canelo Alvarez defeated Austin Trout by unanimous decision
15 September 2012 Canelo Alvarez defeated Josesito Lopez by fifth-round TKO
5 May 2012 Canelo Alvarez defeated Shane Mosley by unanimous decision
26 November 2011 Canelo Alvarez defeated Kermit Cintron by fifth-round TKO
17 September 2011 Canelo Alvarez defeated Alfonso Gomez by sixth-round TKO
18 June 2011 Canelo Alvarez defeated Ryan Rhodes by 12th-round TKO
5 March 2011 Canelo Alvarez defeated Matthew Hatton by unanimous decision
4 December 2010 Canelo Alvarez defeated Lovemore N’dou by unanimous decision
18 September 2010 Canelo Alvarez defeated Carlos Baldomir by sixth-round KO
10 July 2010 Canelo Alvarez defeated Luciano Leonel Cuello by sixth-round TKO
1 May 2010 Canelo Alvarez defeated Jose Cotto by ninth-round TKO
6 March 2010 Canelo Alvarez defeated Brian Camechis by third-round KO
5 December 2009 Canelo Alvarez defeated Lanardo Tyner by unanimous decision
15 September 2009 Canelo Alvarez defeated Carlos Leonardo Herrera by first-round TKO
8 August 2009 Canelo Alvarez defeated Marat Khuzeev by second-round KO
6 June 2009 Canelo Alvarez defeated Jeferson Luis Goncalo by ninth-round KO
11 April 2009 Canelo Alvarez defeated Michel Rosales by 10th-round TKO
21 February 2009 Canelo Alvarez defeated Euri Gonzalez by 11th-round TKO
17 January 2009 Canelo Alvarez defeated Luis Antonio Fitch by first-round TKO
5 December 2008 Canelo Alvarez defeated Raul Pinzon by first-round TKO
24 October 2008 Canelo Alvarez defeated Larry Mosley by unanimous decision
2 August 2008 Canelo Alvarez defeated Carlos Adan Jerez by unanimous decision
28 June 2008 Canelo Alvarez defeated Miguel Vazquez by unanimous decision
6 June 2008 Canelo Alvarez defeated Francisco Villanueva by split decision
18 April 2008 Canelo Alvarez defeated Gabriel Martinez by retirement in the 11th-round
14 Mary 2008 Canelo Alvarez defeated Francisco Villanueva by ninth-round TKO
22 February 2008 Canelo Alvarez defeated Axel Rodrigo Solis by first-round knockout
15 December 2007 Canelo Alvarez defeated Sean Holley by second-round TKO
31 August 2007 Canelo Alvarez defeated Ricardo Cano by unanimous decision
18 August 2007 Canelo Alvarez defeated Christian Solano by unanimous decision
1 June 2007 Canelo Alvarez defeated Jesus Abel Hernandez by second-round TKO
19 May 2007 Canelo Alvarez defeated Víctor Marquez by fourth-round KO
30 March 2007 Canelo Alvarez defeated Ivan Illescas by fourth-round KO
2 March 2007 Canelo Alvarez defeated Javier Martinez by eighth-round TKO
8 December 2006 Canelo Alvarez defeated Daniel Martinez by second-round KO
29 September 2006 Canelo Alvarez defeated Francisco Villanueva by fifth-round KO
15 September 2006 Canelo Alvarez defeated Cristian Hernandez by second-round KO
21 July 2006 Canelo Alvarez defeated Juan Hernandez by second-round KO
17 June 2006 Canelo Alvarez and Jorge Juarez, split draw
10 February 2006 Canelo Alvarez defeated Pedro Lopez by first-round KO
20 January 2006 Canelo Alvarez defeated Miguel Vazquez by split decision
26 November 2005 Canelo Alvarez defeated Pablo Alvarado by second-round KO
29 October 2005 Canelo Alvarez defeated Abraham Gonzalez by fourth-round TKO