When discussing the sport of boxing over the last decade, one name stands out above the rest: Canelo Álvarez.
One of the most decorated and accomplished fighters of all-time, Álvarez has captured titles at four different weight classes, become the first undisputed champion at the 168-pound weight class. Canelo has fought some of the best fighters the sport has seen (eg: Floyd Mayweather Jr., Gennady Golovkin).
Now, he prepares to step back into the ring for the first time in eight months to compete against English fighter John Ryder in a bout that holds a special place in Álvarez’s heart due to it taking place in his hometown of Guadalajara, Mexico.
“It means a lot for me," Álvarez tells Complex. "It’s really important to bring this fight to my people where I started my career and where the people supported me at the beginning. It means everything to me.”
After Ryder, there is the much-anticipated rematch between Álvarez and Dmitry Bivol, the fighter who gave Álvarez his first loss since losing to Mayweather Jr. in 2013.
We sat down with Álvarez to discuss his path to the pinnacle of boxing, his most memorable moments from his career to date and much more.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
Your upcoming fight with John Ryder is happening in Guadalajara, Mexico, your hometown. What does it mean for you to bring a fight to your hometown?
It means a lot for me. It’s really important to bring this fight to my people where I started my career and where the people supported me at the beginning. It means everything to me.
You have fought in multiple different weight classes, have collected titles in multiple different weight classes. What is about the challenge of consistently moving up in weight?
I just want to make history. That’s history for my country, especially a fighter from Mexico fighting in that weight class. I’m just trying to do my best in making history.
Speaking of Mexico, there have been a lot of great fighters to come out of the country. You have established yourself as one of the premier fighters from the country, where do you view yourself stacking up against the greatest Mexican fighters of all-time?
I try my best, I just do my best in boxing. I love what I do and we’ll see when my career ends and what position I’m going to be in.
You’ve had multiple high-profile fights throughout your career, whether it’s the trilogy with Gennady Golovkin. Your fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. Is there anything in particular, a moment or fight, that stands out adobe the rest?
I think every single fight is important for my whole career. But I think the second hfal of my fight with Miguel Cotto, that’s when my era started.
What is it about that Cotto fight that stands out the most to you?
I like the fight with Cotto, one of the great fighters from Puerto Rico. He was one of the fighters I watched most to learn from. That was a very special night for me.
2023 is shaping up to be a great year in boxing. We have already gotten Caleb Plant and David Benavidez, Ryan Garcia and Gervonta Davis are next. We also have Devin Hany and Vasiliy Lomachenko soon after. Can you describe the positive momentum for boxing this year after years where it seemed none of the biggest fights were being made?
I think this is what’s best for boxing. All of that kind of stuff they always put it on me, so it’s about time.
Speaking of you, there are two major fights that fans are clamoring to see from you, whether it’s a rematch with Dmitry Bivol or taking on Benavidez now that he has gotten past Plant. Is there one of those two fights you look forward to more than the other or do you just take them as they come?
Everybody knows my goal this year is the rematch with Bivol and then we will see. But if the fight does not happen with Bivol, then we will see.
Is there anything you learned from the first Bivol fight?
I just need to be able to train 100%, that’s it.
Is there anything you consider the greatest accomplishment to date in your career?
Four weight class champion. The first undisputed champion at 168-pounds, three-time fighter of the year. I’ve accomplished a lot in boxing, so a lot of things.
We have spoken a lot about what you have accomplished inside of the ring, but you have a lot of things that go on outside of it as well. What endeavors are you looking forward to most outside of boxing once your career ends?
I just want to be a real businessman. I try to do really good business outside of boxing, and the same discipline I have in boxing I want to put that into my work outside of it as well. And play golf.
Is there a dream fight that you wish you could have fought? Any fighter from any era?
I like a lot of Roberto Durán and Julio César Chávez from Mexico. I think that it would have been an honor to fight them.
You’ve been known as the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world now, what is it you want to be remembered for the most when it’s all said and done?
I want to be remembered as one of the best fighters out there.
