Why does Canelo Álvarez have Chewbacca in his entourage?

In the world of boxing, strange moments sometimes steal the spotlight just as much as the action in the ring. That was the case when Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, fresh off a win against Edgar Berlanga, stood in the ring for his post-fight interview, only to be upstaged by an unexpected guest: Chewbacca, or something that looked an awful lot like him.

Picture it: Canelo, one of the most dominant fighters in the world, surrounded by his team, belts, and reporters, with a hairy figure lurking behind him. This wasn’t a case of a rough fighter showing the wear and tear of a brutal match. No, this was someone - or something - straight out of a Star Wars movie, holding one of Canelo’s belts in the air like a cosmic prize. The visual was so bizarre that it immediately set off a storm of questions online.

“Why is Teen Wolf in the ring with Canelo?” one viewer wondered aloud. Others were quick to toss in their own zingers, from “Canelo the first person to bring the chupacabra to the ring interview” to “What’s with that Geico Caveman hanging out with Canelo?”

But this wasn’t just some gag for the cameras. No one was laughing harder than Canelo himself. For a fighter known to have a flair for the dramatic, this moment might have topped them all. In a post-fight interview where he addressed his critics - those who say he’s ducked younger fighters - Canelo stood proudly with his furry accomplice, laying down his latest victory as proof that he remains the best in the world.

“I did good. Now what are they going to say?” Canelo asked, half smirking. “Before, they say I only fight older fighters. Now what are they going to say? They always talk. I’m the best fighter in the world.”

On paper, Canelo’s latest bout against Berlanga might look routine - another notch in the belt of a fighter who seems to do nothing but win. With the decision coming in 117-110, 118-109, and 118-109, it was clear Canelo had his way through most of the fight. That’s 13 wins in his last 14 fights, bringing his career record to an impressive 62-2-2. Berlanga, on the other hand, tasted defeat for the first time in his career, his record now sitting at 22-1.

But nothing about the fight was routine. The tension between Canelo and Berlanga was thick enough to cut with a knife, starting with Berlanga landing a low blow in the fifth round, which set Canelo off. The fight continued with Canelo blowing kisses mid-round and even putting his gloves down to walk away in the tenth, thinking the bell had rung early. Berlanga, always the opportunist, landed a punch to the forehead as Canelo turned. It was that kind of night - a bizarre mix of skill, showmanship, and outright confusion.

Even Berlanga’s corner seemed concerned at one point. After the ninth round, his trainer was in his ear, asking if he was even awake. It didn’t help that commentators like Abner Mares were saying things like, “They gotta stop that fight. He’s taking too many shots. There’s no need for it. He’s still young.”

Despite the odd moments and the tension, Berlanga kept swinging, though it was clear by the end of the night that Canelo was the superior fighter. But the lingering image from that fight wasn’t the blows or the scorecards - it was Chewbacca holding up that belt, standing proudly next to one of boxing’s greats.

So, why Chewbacca? Maybe it was Canelo’s way of keeping things light in a sport where things can turn deadly serious in an instant. Or maybe he just wanted to give people something to talk about other than his record. Whatever the reason, the strange post-fight guest became the perfect cap to a bizarre evening.

To be fair to Canelo, there has been no official word from his camp about the meaning of the stunt. It could just as well have been a homage to Teen Wolf or the Chupacabra as anything else.

One thing’s for sure: Canelo Alvarez, with or without a Wookiee by his side, isn’t done proving he’s still king of the ring.