Canelo Alvarez has transformed from a teenager selling ice creams into boxing`s highest-paid star. He is now on the brink of achieving what could be the most significant victory of his career.
The acclaimed Mexican fighter began working at his father`s ice cream parlor at the age of 13, turning professional in boxing just two years later.
Today, he stands as the sport`s top earner and is even on a path toward becoming a billionaire. Canelo credits his father, Santos, for instilling the values that shaped him into the person he is today.
Speaking in Riyadh, Canelo shared his reflections:
I was very happy selling ice creams and looking for my dream. I was very happy too and right now being in this situation, my dad and my family keep selling ice cream. So I`m very happy to do what I did and what I do right now and I`m just blessed.
My dad showed me how to work, how to respect work, how to be honest, so that made me the man I am today.
Canelo has captured titles across four different weight divisions, ranging from 154lb light-middleweight up to 175lb light-heavyweight.
He currently reigns as the undisputed super-middleweight champion at 168lb and is preparing to defend this title against American Terence Crawford.
Credit: AFP
Crawford is widely regarded as the top fighter in the sport, undefeated in all 41 of his professional bouts and holding world championships in four weight classes.
The highly anticipated fight is scheduled for September 13 at the 65,000-seat stadium of the Las Vegas Raiders, set to be broadcast live on Netflix.
Defeating Crawford would undoubtedly be one of the most significant triumphs in Canelo`s impressive career, marking the first loss for his opponent.
The former ice cream seller stated:
He`s going to be one of the best wins of my career for sure.
While Crawford has an undefeated record, Canelo feels the pressure is always on him, especially when moving up in weight classes.
If we`re looking at this point at this weight the pressure is always with me. If I`m moving up two weight classes or light-heavyweight or this the pressure is always in my side but I`ve been in this situation a lot of times and I`m just calm. I`m gonna put my best boxing IQ and my experience, my best in the training camp and put and just go there and win.
Canelo, a father of three, is not intimidated by the scale of the upcoming fight. In fact, he thrives on such challenges.
This is not new for me obviously, I`ve been in big fights for a lot of time. But you know, this kind of situation motivates myself because my goal was always make history and this kind of big fight put me in there so I`m glad to be here.
Credit: Reuters
