Saul Canelo Alvarez reflects on 20 years of

RENO, Nevada — The historical past of Mexican boxing options names that transcend generations. From Julio César Chávez, acknowledged as the head of Mexican boxing, to legendary figures such as Juan Manuel Márquez, Rubén ‘Púas’ Olivares, Salvador Sánchez, Ricardo ‘Finito’ López and Carlos ‘Cañas’ Zárate — all have proudly carried the title of Mexican flag to the height of the boxing world.

The custom of Aztec dominance has been continued in a big method by Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez, who on Oct. 29 will rejoice a historic 20-year skilled profession that started when he was just 15 years outdated, when he made his skilled debut against Abraham González. Two a long time later, with a legacy constructed on titles and big phases, Álvarez paused to mirror on his development from red-headed teenager who dreamed of being the best in the world to the current king of Mexican boxing with 63 victories.

“I’ve achieved everything in boxing, imagine how satisfying that is for me,” Álvarez told L.A. Times en Español during his training camp in Reno, Nev.

The celebration has already been deliberate and, like all the things else involving Álvarez, will probably be non-public but “on a grand scale.” The magnitude will seemingly rely on whether or not he emerges victorious when he defends his 4 belts against the undefeated Terence Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) Saturday (6 p.m., Netflix), at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

“I think I’ve done some really good things in boxing and I’m very proud of that kid who started out with the dream of being the best in the world,” said the 35-year-old from Jalisco.

That child, as his brother, Ricardo, remembers, was no different from any other teen in Guadalajara, besides for an uncommon obsession: to succeed in a brutal and demanding sport. His journey started in local gyms, under the tutelage of Chepo Reynoso and his son, Eddy, who noticed extraordinary potential. It was there that Canelo Álvarez heard the phrases that would ceaselessly mark his future.

Boxer Canelo Álvarez, heart, poses alongside his trainers Chepo Reynoso, left, and Eddy Reynoso, proper, at MGM Grand in Las Vegas in 2018.

(Ethan Miller / Getty Images)

“‘With the talent you have, you’ll get wherever you want to go,’ is what they always told me, and it stuck in my mind,” Canelo said, recalling his early days with Chepo, his coach since he was 14 years outdated.

Two a long time later, Canelo says that advice is still the message he would repeat to himself if he might journey back in time. Because those phrases not only fueled his starvation, they gave him conviction.

“I would just tell that kid what he already knows, that ‘you’re going to get wherever you want to go,’” Canelo said.

Two a long time later, that child not only fulfilled his promise, but exceeded it. He turned a champion in a number of divisions, a global icon and, above all, a man who continues to look forward.

The story of Canelo Álvarez is just not just that of a boxer, but of a dream fulfilled through self-discipline, sacrifice and religion. And yet, as Ricardo often says, “he still has a long way to go.”

Canelo’s journey has not been improvised or meteoric, but moderately a project formed by persistence and self-discipline. Eddy, who has also been Canelo’s coach since adolescence, remembers continuously studying alongside Canelo.

“In 2000, I started training boxers with my dad — first amateurs and then professionals. We formed a group of kids and teenagers, and that’s where Saúl came from,” Eddy said.

That connection, solid in the gyms of Jalisco, was the start of one of the most profitable partnerships in boxing historical past. Eddy was impressed by figures such as Julián Magdaleno and Rafael Mendoza, coaches who instilled in him the ambition to be somebody great in the game.

Canelo Alvarez celebrates with his household after defeating John Ryder at Akron Stadium in 2023 in Zapopan, Mexico.

(Hector Vivas / Getty Images)

“I always imagined myself being someone important in boxing,” Eddy said. “And with Saúl, we’ve achieved that.”

In his two-decade profession, Canelo has moved up in weight class, stage and demand. He has completed so by going through Miguel Cotto, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Gennady Golovkin, against whom he fought a memorable trilogy.

Although he suffered his first profession defeat in 2013 against Mayweather, it was the struggle that paved the way in which for his success not only as a champion, but also as an entrepreneur and businessman.

However, it’s the second struggle against Golovkin in September 2018 that holds a particular place in Canelo’s coronary heart.

“It was very emotional for me because of many things surrounding the fight,” Canelo said. “Confirming that I was better than him, everything that had been said. [It] was a very special moment.”

Eddy agrees that that night time was a high level.

“I saw him very happy when he beat Golovkin in the second round. Also, when he beat Miguel Cotto, or even in his early four-round fights. Every win has had meaning, but that victory over ‘GGG’ was special.”

Little by little, Canelo realized from his errors and cleared his path to turn into the financial and sporting powerhouse he’s today. Along the way in which, he fell out with Golden Boy Promotions and Oscar De La Hoya in 2020, with whom he first turned a famous person, and made a miscalculation by transferring up to mild heavyweight and dropping for the second time in his profession, this time to Dmitry Bivol in 2022.

The darkest second of his profession got here in 2018 when he was suspended for six months by the Nevada Athletic Commission for testing optimistic for the banned substance clenbuterol. According to Canelo’s crew, this was because of contaminated meat he ate during a go to to Mexico. Clenbuterol is sometimes used in cattle feed to increase muscle mass.

Beyond the belts, the million-dollar purses and the celebrity, Canelo’s profession has been supported by his unwavering household, significantly during the tough instances.

“It’s been a long 20-year career,” said Ricardo, one of Canelo’s six older brothers. (*20*)

The household has celebrated every victory and accompanied him through every impediment. For them, the struggle against Crawford is just not just a sporting problem, it’s also a household reunion.

“We are going to celebrate with great happiness, with the family, more than anything else united, with friends and team. All together, as always,” said Ricardo.

Canelo Alvarez hits Jaime Munguia during a tremendous middleweight title struggle on May 4, 2024, in Las Vegas.

(John Locher / Associated Press)

In the Álvarez household’s reminiscence, there are moments that outline their historical past, anecdotes that serve as symbols of all the things that was to come. Ricardo remembered one of them with specific readability: the night time they went to the films to see “Cinderella Man,” the 2005 movie about James J. Braddock, the boxer who persevered during the Great Depression and fought for a world title.

As they left the room, Ricardo requested his youthful brother, “Can you imagine fighting on a stage like that one day?”

Canelo recalled telling his brother: “I wanted to succeed like that boxer, but with a different ending, fighting in world championships on the biggest stages.”

With a profession that has taken Canelo to Madison Square Garden, the MGM Grand and T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Canelo acknowledges he made the aim come true.

“Now that we’ve talked about it after all these years, he says to me, ‘And what do you think? I’ve already fought on the best stages.’ And yes, he’s achieved everything,” Ricardo said.

Canelo Álvarez, left, with brother, Ricardo.

(HANDOUT / INSTAGRAM)

Saturday’s setting will once again be monumental: Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Awaiting him there shall be Crawford, who is taken into account by many to be the best pound-for-pound fighter today.

For Eddy, this struggle represents a conflict of kinds and energy.

“A huge fight is coming between two of the world’s greatest powerhouses, Mexico and the United States. We’re going to show that the Mexican school is the best,” Eddy said.

Ricardo also acknowledges the magnitude of the problem: “[Canelo] has had big fights, with Cotto, Golovkin, Mayweather. But you can feel what this fight means in the atmosphere. It’s the biggest fight today, and I’m sure it’s going to surprise people.”

Canelo, for his half, takes it in stride.

“It means a lot to me to continue fighting in big fights, in a stadium as important as Allegiant,” he said. “I’m happy and excited to be there.”

It’s still unclear how precisely Canelo will rejoice Oct. 29 and his 20 years of boxing.

Eddy envisions becoming a member of the celebration with a resounding victory.

“We’re going to win this fight by knockout,” Eddy guarantees, “and then we’re going to have a big party in Mexico.”

This article first appeared in Spanish via L.A. Times en Español.