Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez has been on the radar as the next big thing in boxing for a long time, and he’s absolutely delivered on that hype—and then some. In a sport where fighters often see their strategies dissected and countered over time, Canelo seems to have cracked the code with a game plan that keeps evolving. Every time he steps into the ring, it’s like he’s leveled up. To keep that kind of fire and drive after almost two decades in the game, you’ve got to be seriously obsessed with winning.
With a record of 65 fights and only two losses, his dominance in the sport is undeniable. Over the years, he has squared off against and defeated numerous top boxers, many of whom had solid resumes. Unfortunately, his first loss came at the hands of Floyd Mayweather, who ended Canelo’s unbeaten streak and left a mark on his otherwise stellar record. Despite this loss, Canelo kept making his mark by beating several undefeated fighters, giving them their first loss, and proving his impact on boxing.
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Canelo Alvarez Beating First Ever Big Undefeated Name
Talking about breaking an undefeated record, it started with his fourth match. However, his opponent, Pedro Lopez, had only one previous fight, which ended in a draw. While that draw technically counted as part of an undefeated record, having just one fight didn’t have a significant impact on his career. Consequently, Canelo’s fight didn’t earn him much applause.
However, when he faced Gabriel Martinez, Canelo’s first major victory over an undefeated boxer came in 2008. At the time, Martinez had an impressive record of 17 wins and one draw. Canelo’s victory over Martinez, which he achieved by retirement in the 11th round, was a significant milestone in his career. This win showed Canelo was undoubtedly a pivotal moment in his rise in the boxing world.
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After his win against Martinez, Canelo continued to dominate, and that victory gave him the credibility he had long been building. His next major win against an undefeated fighter came just a year later when he faced Euri Gonzalez. Canelo secured a decisive knockout, and this performance confirmed his skills and silenced any doubts.
Following that, Canelo defeated Austin Trout, a fighter who had been making waves in the boxing scene for a long time. Trout entered the ring with a 26-fight win streak, which Canelo ended. The bout was a unification match for the WBC, WBA, and The Ring light middleweight titles, and Canelo won by unanimous decision, further cementing his legacy.
In 2016, Canelo Alvarez had already scored a big win against Amir Khan, but his fight against Liam Smith was even more significant. Smith, who was climbing in his career, faced his first defeat from Canelo, and it was a TKO that made the loss even tougher.
One of Canelo’s most notable moments was ending GGG’s winning streak. That fight remains iconic and often pops up on the feed with “what if” debates about a possible GGG victory.
Likewise, his most recent wins against Callum Smith, Billy Joe Saunders, Caleb Plant, and Jaime Munguia were Canelo’s wins against undefeated fighters. It gives chills that he has broken so many winning streaks, from Caleb Plant’s to Jaime Munguia’s, which shows why he has a statue in his own country.
Canelo Alvarez’s Undefeated Opponents: The Undefeated Fighters Who Stood Tall?
As mentioned earlier, the fight with Floyd Mayweather, which Oscar De La Hoya had warned him about, was a clash between two undefeated boxers. In his prime with 44 wins, Mayweather faced the exciting Mexican talent in Canelo. This bout highlighted Canelo’s inexperience at the time and Mayweather’s superior skills, resulting in Canelo’s first taste of defeat.
Nearly nine years after his loss to Mayweather, Canelo faced Dmitri Bivol in 2022, marking his most recent defeat. The fight was for the WBA light heavyweight title, which Bivol held at the time. Bivol emerged victorious, earning a unanimous decision as he outpaced and outperformed Canelo throughout the bout.
