Mexican star Canelo Alvarez will fight unified middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin on the September 16 in Las Vegas. The fight, which will be held at the T-Mobile Arena, is one of the most intriguing and thrilling match ups of the year. Looking toward the middleweight clash, this article looks at the five defining moments in Canelo’s career.
5. Starting young
Unlike his opponent in September, Canelo didn’t enjoy a long and illustrious amateur boxing career. His only amateur successes were in 2004 when he won silver at the Junior Mexican National championships, and a year later where he went one better to claim gold in the same competition. His amateur record was 44-2, and due to his trainers not being able to find suitable opponents, Alvarez turned to the professional ranks at just 15 years of age. He fought fighters who were significantly older than him, however, Canelo’s talent was evident, knocking out 11 of his 13 documented opponents, in his first 19 months as a professional.
4. First professional world title
The Mexican would challenge European welterweight champion Matthew Hatton for the vacant WBC light middleweight title, on March 5 2011. The Honda Center in Anaheim, California was the venue for the bout, and even though the Mexican was docked a point in the seventh round for hitting after the break, all three judges gave the win to Canelo on a clear unanimous decision.
3. Trout showdown
Alvarez faced unbeaten WBA regular light middleweight title holder, Austin Trout, on April 20 2013 in Texas. It was seen as Canelo’s toughest test in the ring yet, with Trout coming off a career best win over Miguel Cotto. The Mexican claimed a unanimous decision over Trout in a close contest, the win had added significance in Canelo’s career, as it set up his money-spinning fight with Floyd Mayweather.
2. Cotto contest
Canelo challenged Puerto Rican legend Miguel Cotto for the vacant WBC middleweight belt, at the Mandalay Bay hotel, on November 21 2015. There were 10 years between the fighters, which showed during the fight, as Canelo’s energy and stronger blows, earned him a unanimous points victory. After beating a fighter of Cotto’s standing, it catapulted the Mexican into many pound-for-pound lists.
1. Mexican melee
The contest to become the fighting pride of Mexico took place in the T-Mobile Arena, on May 6 2017. Unfortunately the fight didn’t live up to the hype, as Canelo showed his superior boxing skills, over an opponent who was extremely cautious. Alvarez took a wide unanimous decision over the disappointing Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, expanding Canelo’s popularity in his home country even further.
