“His ego is too big”: Canelo Álvarez under fire after brutal loss to Terence Crawford

Just over a month ago, the boxing world was shaken. Mexico’s Canelo Álvarez (63-3-2, 39 KOs) lost his undisputed super middleweight crown to Terence “Bud” Crawford (42-0, 31 KOs). The American jumped up two weight classes and dominated the fight from start to finish, frustrating Canelo with superior speed and precision. The stunning loss sparked a wave of criticism that still hasn’t let up.

For years, Canelo was viewed as the sport’s biggest name and one of its best pound-for-pound fighters. Before Crawford, only two men had ever beaten him, Floyd Mayweather Jr. (50-0, 27 KOs) back in 2013, when Canelo was just 23, and Dmitry Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) a decade later. He held world titles for 14 straight years and defeated 21 former champions. But now, after the Crawford fight, much of the boxing world seems eager to tear him down.

“Crawford took it more seriously than Canelo”

Among those piling on was Canelo’s former promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, who didn’t hold back. Nor did David Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs), the undefeated contender fans have long wanted to see face Canelo.

“I think Crawford took it way more seriously than Canelo, which is crazy considering the money Canelo was making,” Benavidez told FightHub TV. “A lot of people will say, ‘Oh, you’re just talking trash about Canelo.’ I’m not. He just didn’t look 100 percent prepared. He was throwing maybe ten punches a round, that’s how big his ego is.”

Some still stand by the Mexican star

When everyone seemed ready to bury him, only a few stood up for Canelo. Ryan Garcia (24-2, 20 KOs) reminded fans that Canelo will “always be a legend,” while Mauricio Sulaimán, president of the World Boxing Council, called out the hypocrisy of the critics.

“It’s easy to stand by a champion and just as easy to abandon him after a loss,” Sulaimán said.

Even so, many analysts believe the defeat marks the beginning of the end for Canelo’s career. Calvin Ford, trainer of Gervonta Davis, told FightHub TV that the signs of decline were obvious.

“It’s not surprising at all, because I predicted it,” Ford said. “I said Canelo was going to show signs of wear and aging that night. No disrespect to Crawford, he fought a great fight. Honestly, Bud could’ve knocked him out. He probably thought about it, but he was humble and still put on a great performance.”

When will Canelo Álvarez fight next?

Canelo is currently recovering from surgery on his right elbow, which he underwent in late September to address lingering pain. The operation forced him to delay a planned return backed by Saudi advisor Turki Al-Sheikh, originally set for early 2026.

If recovery goes smoothly, the Mexican champion could be back in training within 12 to 15 weeks and return to the ring as soon as May 2026.

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