With his red hair and freckles, baby-faced Canelo Alvarez may not appear to be your typical Mexican warrior, but one look at the hard-hitting WBC Super Welterweight World Champion in the ring, and it’s clear that he is following firmly in the footsteps of Mexican greats such as Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales and Julio Cesar Chavez, making him not only one of the most popular young fighters in his home country, but one in demand throughout the entire Latino fight community.
Just 22 years old, Alvarez amazingly made his pro debut just three months after his 15th birthday on October 29, 2005. He made an immediate impression, halting Abraham Gonzalez in four rounds in their bout which took place in Tonala, Jalisco, Mexico.
Three more wins followed in rapid succession for Alvarez before he was extended to a four round draw with Jorge Juarez in June of 2006. There have been no more blemishes on his record since then, with Alvarez winning 11 of his next 13 bouts by knockout and winning the Jalisco state welterweight title in the process.
2008 was the biggest year for Alvarez, as he went 8-0 with four knockouts while earning the WBA Fedecentro welterweight title with a 12-round decision win over previously unbeaten Gabriel Martinez in April of that year. That bout also doubled as his US television debut, one that saw him garner plenty of fans for his exciting style.
In August of 2008, Alvarez defended his title with a 10-round unanimous decision win over 39-fight veteran Carlos Adan Jerez, and on October 24, he made his US debut with a clear-cut 10-round win over talented Larry Mosley at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Cabazon, California.
Alvarez finished off 2008 in style with a first round TKO of 16-1 Raul Pinzon on December 5, and on January 17, he kicked off his 2009 campaign with a first round TKO of Antonio Fitch that earned him the vacant NABF welterweight title.
Since then, Alvarez has kept up a ferocious fight pace with six more bouts in 2009. His streak of destruction after the Fitch fight continued on February 21, when he halted unbeaten Euri Gonzalez in 11 rounds to win the WBO Latino title. Less than two months later, he defended his NABF belt with a 10th round stoppage of highly regarded Michel Rosales, and victories over Jeferson Concalo (KO9), Marat Khuzeev (KO2), and Carlos Herrera (TKO1) followed in June, August, and September, respectively, upping his pro record to 29-0-1 with 22 Kos. He finished up 2009 on December 5 with a near shutout 12-round decision win over Lanardo Tyner.
In January of 2010, Alvarez signed a promotional contract with Golden Boy Promotions, kicking off a relationship that he hoped would lead him to a world championship. Since then, he has been unstoppable, defending his NABF title with a third round knockout of Brian Camechis in March, halting highly-ranked contender Jose Miguel Cotto in nine rounds in May, and stopping 26-1 Luciano Cuello in six rounds for the vacant WBC silver junior middleweight title in July of that year.
On September 18, 2010, Alvarez returned to the ring at Los Angeles’ STAPLES Center and became only the second man to ever knock out former welterweight champion Carlos Baldomir, as he finished him in the sixth round, and subsequently finished off his stellar year on December 4with a 12-round unanimous decision win over Lovemore N’dou.
March 5 marked Alvarez’s first bout of 2011. He was in top-notch form as he won the vacant WBC super welterweight title with a near shutout victory over British contender Matthew Hatton.
Canelo defended his crown for the first time on June 18, 2011 against another battlin’ Brit, Sheffield’s Ryan Rhodes in front of thousands of adoring fans in his native country of Mexico. He ended the exciting bout in style, halting the longtime contender in the twelfth round of a showdown that captivated the nation, setting viewing records across the country.
Alvarez' next stop was on September 17th, where he faced Alfonso Gomez at the Staples Center, as part of the dual-site-pay-per-view extravaganza, "Star Power". Alvarez, who headlined the bout did not dissapoint his fans, as he defeated Gomez in the 4th round by a technical knockout. Alvarez was able to end 2011 with another victory, when he went against Kermit Cintron on November 11th. After five rounds, Alvarez defeated Cintron with a technical knockout.
2012 will be another victorious year for Alvarez, as he is more willing and determined than ever.
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Bio Courtesy of Golden Boy Promotions
