Canelo Álvarez: biography, record, fights and No Boxing No Life
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In short: Canelo Álvarez, born Santos Saúl Álvarez Barragán on 18 July 1990 in Guadalajara, Mexico, turned professional at 15 and has won world titles in four weight classes: light middleweight, middleweight, super middleweight and light heavyweight. On 6 November 2021 he became the first undisputed super middleweight champion in history. His professional record stands at 64 wins (39 KOs), 3 losses and 2 draws. Trained since his teens by Eddy Reynoso, he wears gloves from the Mexican brand No Boxing No Life. On 31 October 2026 in Riyadh, he beat Christian Mbilli by unanimous decision to win back the WBC super middleweight title.
On 6 November 2021 in Las Vegas, Canelo Álvarez stopped Caleb Plant in the eleventh round to become the first boxer ever to hold the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO super middleweight belts at once. On 31 October 2026 in Riyadh, thirteen months after losing to Terence Crawford, he took the WBC belt from previously unbeaten Christian Mbilli by unanimous decision: 115-112, 116-111 and 117-110.
Canelo Álvarez at a glance
| Detail | Canelo Álvarez |
|---|---|
| Full name | Santos Saúl Álvarez Barragán |
| Nickname | Canelo (Spanish for “cinnamon”) |
| Born | 18 July 1990, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico |
| Nationality | Mexican |
| Height | 1.71 m / 5 ft 7 in |
| Reach | 179 cm / 70.5 in |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Pro debut | 2005, aged 15 |
| Trainers | José “Chepo” Reynoso and Eddy Reynoso |
| Pro record | 64 wins (39 KOs), 3 losses, 2 draws |
| World titles in | Light middleweight, middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight |
Why is he called Canelo?
Canelo means “cinnamon” in Spanish, and in Mexico it is a common nickname for redheads. Saúl Álvarez's red hair, unusual in Jalisco, earned him the name as a child; he credits an Irish ancestor. It became his ring name, then a brand of its own: on gloves, apparel and fight posters, “Canelo” is all it takes.
Guadalajara and a family of fighters
Saúl Álvarez is the youngest of eight children and of seven brothers who all became professional boxers. He started boxing as a teenager in Guadalajara at the gym of José “Chepo” Reynoso and turned pro in 2005, aged 15. Chepo's son Eddy Reynoso took charge of his training and has been in his corner ever since, winning The Ring's Trainer of the Year award twice.
That continuity is rare at the elite level: the same team has handled Canelo's preparation for more than twenty years, from small Mexican venues to stadiums in Las Vegas and Riyadh.
Four-division world champion
| Weight class | Limit | World titles |
|---|---|---|
| Light middleweight | 154 lb / 69.9 kg | WBC (2011), WBA and The Ring (2013), WBO (2016) |
| Middleweight | 160 lb / 72.6 kg | WBC and The Ring (2015), WBA super, WBC and The Ring (2018), IBF (2019) |
| Super middleweight | 168 lb / 76.2 kg | WBA (2018), undisputed WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO (2021), undisputed again in 2025, WBC (2026) |
| Light heavyweight | 175 lb / 79.4 kg | WBO (2019) |
To be undisputed, a fighter must hold all four major belts at once. Our guide to the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO belts explains what each one stands for.
Canelo's defining fights
| Date | Opponent | Result | At stake |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Sep 2013 | Floyd Mayweather Jr | Loss, majority decision | First pro defeat, aged 23 |
| 21 Nov 2015 | Miguel Cotto | Win, decision | WBC and The Ring middleweight titles |
| 16 Sep 2017 | Gennady Golovkin | Draw | First fight of the trilogy |
| 15 Sep 2018 | Gennady Golovkin | Win, majority decision | WBA, WBC and The Ring middleweight titles |
| 2 Nov 2019 | Sergey Kovalev | Win, KO round 11 | WBO light heavyweight title, fourth division |
| 6 Nov 2021 | Caleb Plant | Win, TKO round 11 | First undisputed super middleweight champion |
| 7 May 2022 | Dmitry Bivol | Loss, decision | WBA light heavyweight title bid |
| 17 Sep 2022 | Gennady Golovkin | Win, decision | Trilogy closes |
| 3 May 2025 | William Scull | Win, decision | Undisputed at super middleweight again |
| 13 Sep 2025 | Terence Crawford | Loss, decision | Loses all four belts at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas |
| 31 Oct 2026 | Christian Mbilli | Win, unanimous decision | Wins back the WBC super middleweight title in Riyadh |
The rivalry with Gennady Golovkin (GGG) defined his prime: three fights between 2017 and 2022, one draw and two Canelo wins, all in Las Vegas on Mexican Independence Day weekend.
Canelo's style: counterpunching and body work
Canelo fights from an orthodox stance with a high guard and builds his fights on counterpunching. Upper-body rolls and slips keep him in range without backing up, ready to fire back. His signature weapon is the left hook to the body, landed under the elbow on the liver and chained with an uppercut or a hook upstairs.
That body attack wore most of his opponents down over the rounds, and it is a fundamental anyone can drill on a heavy bag, working the lower half of the bag.
Eddy Reynoso and No Boxing No Life
No Boxing No Life began as a phrase painted on the wall of Eddy Reynoso's gym in Guadalajara. It then became a Mexican boxing equipment brand — gloves, headgear, shoes — made in Mexico. Canelo was set to wear No Boxing No Life gloves in the September 2018 Golovkin rematch; after the Golovkin camp objected they were set aside, and he finally wore them in December 2018 against Rocky Fielding, winning the WBA super middleweight title. From there the brand went global.
Other fighters from the Reynoso stable have worn it since, including Ryan Garcia, Oscar Valdez and Andy Ruiz. Part of the range carries the CA monogram, Canelo Álvarez's initials.
No Boxing No Life lace-up gloves:
- Canelo Alvarez boxing gloves — black and gold, the version tied to Canelo.
- No Boxing No Life Mexican flag gloves — white, green and red, marked Hecho en México.
- No Boxing No Life all-gold gloves — fully gold, a collector's piece.
- No Boxing No Life silver gloves — silver finish.
- No Boxing No Life pink gloves — designed for women boxers.
To pick the right weight before ordering, see our guide what size boxing gloves do I need.
How much does Canelo earn?
| Year | Ranking | Estimated annual earnings |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 4th highest-paid athlete in the world (Forbes) | $94 million |
| 2022 | 8th (Forbes) | $90 million |
| 2023 | 5th (Forbes) | $110 million |
| 2025 | 2nd (Sportico) | $137 million |
In April 2026, Sportico placed him among the fifty highest-paid athletes of all time, with around $870 million in career earnings adjusted for inflation.
Canelo beats Christian Mbilli to regain the WBC title
In his first fight since the Crawford loss, on 31 October 2026, Canelo headlines the “México vs The World” card in Riyadh against Christian Mbilli. Born in Yaoundé, Cameroon, on 26 April 1995 and raised in France, Mbilli boxed for France at the Rio 2016 Olympics, turned pro in 2017 and is based in Quebec with trainer Marc Ramsay. He came in unbeaten at 29-0-1 (24 KOs), WBC super middleweight champion since January 2026. Canelo stepped in as the challenger and won over 12 rounds by unanimous decision: 115-112, 116-111 and 117-110. Mbilli, docked a point in round eight, suffered the first loss of his pro career (29-1-1). At 36, Canelo is WBC super middleweight champion again, a title he held from 2021 to 2025, and moves to 64 wins.
Wear Canelo and No Boxing No Life
- No Boxing No Life t-shirt — gold slogan on black or white.
- No Boxing No Life Mexico t-shirt — in Mexico's colours.
- King Canelo t-shirt and Team Canelo t-shirt — for Canelo fans.
- No Boxing No Life hoodie and Canelo 1990 hoodie — Canelo's birth year in a medallion.
- No Boxing No Life cap and No Boxing No Life beanie.
- No Boxing No Life heavy bag and Canelo Alvarez canvas — for the gym or the living-room wall.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Canelo Álvarez?
Canelo Álvarez was born on 18 July 1990 in Guadalajara, Mexico. He is 36 in 2026 and turned professional in 2005, aged 15.
How many losses does Canelo have?
Three losses in 69 pro fights: to Floyd Mayweather Jr in 2013, Dmitry Bivol in 2022 and Terence Crawford in 2025, all on points. He has never been knocked out. His record is 64 wins (39 KOs), 3 losses and 2 draws after beating Christian Mbilli on 31 October 2026.
Why is he called Canelo?
Canelo means “cinnamon” in Spanish and is a common Mexican nickname for redheads. Saúl Álvarez's red hair earned him the name as a child.
How tall is Canelo Álvarez?
Canelo stands 1.71 m / 5 ft 7 in with a 179 cm / 70.5 in reach. He has won world titles from light middleweight to light heavyweight, 154 lb to 175 lb.
Who is Canelo's trainer?
Eddy Reynoso, who has trained him since his start in Guadalajara alongside his father José “Chepo” Reynoso. Eddy Reynoso is a two-time The Ring Trainer of the Year.
What gloves does Canelo wear?
Canelo wears lace-up gloves from the Mexican brand No Boxing No Life, made in Mexico and linked to Eddy Reynoso's gym. He has worn them in world title fights since December 2018, against Rocky Fielding.
