Saul Alvarez turned pro in 2005 and immediately made an impact in boxing. The 32-year-old is a four-division champion and currently the undisputed super middleweight king. Born in Mexico, Alvarez has become a consistent figure on pound-for-pound lists.
Alvarez last fought in September 2022 and has since been recovering from hand surgery. He returns to action to face John Ryder on May 6. Returning to his home of Guadalajara for the first time since 2011, the Orthodox fighter puts his undisputed super middleweight titles on the line.
“The press conference in Guadalajara was an unbelievable moment for me because I saw my grandma, my dad, my mom, my brothers, my family there. A lot of media guys I saw when I started boxing. For me, I feel very proud and happy to bring this fight to Guadalajara and give the people some of the experience I have in other places as the best in the world,” Canelo said.
The fight airs on DAZN and on DAZN PPV in the U.S.
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Throughout his boxing career, Alvarez has been recognized worldwide as simply “Canelo.” Like Madonna, Usher, Cher, Zendaya, Beyonce, and Drake, only one name is required for this boxing superstar.
The Sporting News looks at the reasoning behind Alvarez’s unique nickname.
Why is Canelo Alvarez called ‘Canelo’?
"Canelo" is shortened from "canelito," which means "little cinnamon" in Spanish.
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When he was younger, Canelo would train in gyms led by Eddy Reynoso, his longtime trainer, and friend. Reynoso gave him the nickname due to his ginger-colored hair and pale skin. Per The Sun, his look was different than most Mexican fighters, and his fierce style in the ring resulted in what ultimately became the “Canelo” nickname.
As a child, people would call him "Santitos" per Marca, which can be related to his cheerful and energetic nature. The name also comes from “Santos,” which is part of his full name.