How many brothers does Canelo Álvarez have? Are any of Canelo’s brothers boxers?
Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez comes from a family of boxers. He followed in his siblings’ footsteps but quickly surpassed them with his skill and determination.
Santos Saúl Álvarez Barragán, born and raised in Juanacatlán, Jalisco, Mexico, had a difficult childhood as the youngest of eight siblings. His fair complexion and red hair made him an easy target for taunts and bullying from his peers. Despite being a naturally timid child, Saúl’s six older brothers, all boxers themselves, encouraged him to stand up for himself.
As the youngest Álvarez sibling grew tired of being called derogatory names like “pecoso” (freckle-face), he began to fight back with his fists. To his surprise, he discovered he could defeat opponents twice his size. Over time, he embraced the nickname “Canelo,” meaning cinnamon, a nod to his signature red hair.
Despite his youth, Canelo’s fighting spirit was undeniable. His brother Rigoberto would later become the interim WBA world champion and advised the young fighter to use his hands to defend himself.
“In school, they would expel me, and I had to go tell my mother. All because they called me names, making fun of me. I was just a normal boy, stronger than the others, and I would defend my friends—a fighter. I was always this way. Strong and quick to anger. I wasn’t very well-behaved.”
BOXING:
At the tender age of 11, Canelo Álvarez had already begun to follow in the footsteps of his older brothers and train at the Julian Magdaleno boxing gym. Despite his youth, he displayed a level of skill and ferocity that struck fear in the hearts of his opponents. So fearsome was his reputation that some amateur trainers refused to schedule bouts against him, fearing for the safety of their fighters.
By the time he turned 15, Canelo had exhausted all his options in the amateur circuit and was left with no choice but to turn professional to secure a fight. This decision was not taken lightly, but with few other options available, Canelo leaped into the pro ranks.
Canelo Álvarez wasted no time making an impact in the professional boxing world. In just 19 months, he had already racked up an impressive 23 fights, winning 21 by knockout. Moreover, his distinctive features – fair skin, red hair, and light complexion – which had made him the target of bullying in his youth now earned him widespread media attention and fame in Mexico.
One of the lingering effects of centuries of Spanish colonization in Mexico is a pervasive cultural preference for light skin. This has led to a deep-seated fascination with fair-skinned actors and singers, often favored by national broadcasters like Televisa. In a twist of fate, Canelo Álvarez now found himself at the center of this cultural phenomenon, becoming a household name and media sensation thanks partly to his physical appearance. It was a remarkable turn of events for the young fighter, who had once been tormented by the features that now made him a star.
“I turned around, and all this happened suddenly. It was very weird. I didn’t see it coming.”
The rising star had fought only a handful of times outside of Mexico when he was offered the chance to challenge Floyd Mayweather at 23 in Las Vegas. Since that fight, he has fought almost exclusively in the United States and has become perhaps the biggest draw on the Vegas strip.
The Álvarez brothers made boxing history in 2008 when they all fought on the undercard of a single event. This was a remarkable achievement, as they were the first brothers to do so. While three siblings lost their debut fights, the other four emerged victorious, including Canelo Álvarez, who secured a resounding unanimous decision over his opponent Miguel Vázquez. It was a proud moment for the Álvarez family and a sign of the great things to come for Canelo, who was beginning to make his mark in the sport.
The brothers Álvarez
Ramón Álvarez is a boxing champion of the highest order, earning the prestigious title of International Boxing Federation Light Middleweight Champion. With an impressive record of 28 wins, 8 losses, and 3 draws, he has proven himself time and again as a formidable force in the ring. In his most recent fight, which took place last year, he secured a decisive unanimous decision victory over his opponent Omar Chavez.
Ricardo Álvarez, on the other hand, has been out of the ring for several years, with his last fight dating back to 2014. Despite this, he remains a talented and accomplished boxer, with a professional record of 24 wins, 3 losses, and 0 draws. His last fight, a unanimous decision win over John Michael Johnson, was a testament to his skill and determination.
Rigoberto Álvarez is a former WBC Super Middleweight and Mexican National Middleweight and Super Middleweight champion, with an impressive professional record of 27 wins and 4 losses. Although his last fight was a unanimous decision loss to Anthony Mundine in October 2019, he remains one of the sport’s most respected and accomplished boxers.
All about family
Canelo revealed in an interview that back in December 2018, just as he prepared to fight Rocky Fielding, one of his brothers was kidnapped, leading the champ to negotiate personally with the kidnappers.
“Three days, I negotiated with those assholes so they would let him go. Three days. And on top of that, I had to fight on Saturday, and a thousand interviews and everything, and no one knew anything.”
He doesn’t elaborate on which of his brothers was kidnapped, but one thing is clear. For Canelo, family comes above everything else.