A few weeks ago, boxing fans were perplexed when the list of the 5 highest-paid boxers in 2024 didn’t have Canelo Alvarez in it. In a year where His Excellency Turki Alalshikh showered money like nothing, the unified super middleweight champion failed to make the cut.

According to reports, the Guadalajara native has now joined hands with the Saudi Royal to not let it happen again as certain reports suggest he might earn a whopping $150 million against Terence Crawford in 2025. However, it looks like money still does not matter to Canelo Alvarez and he just wants to fight. In a conversation with Ring Magazine, the 62-2 fighter clapped back at the young fighters and why they lose steam quickly after getting the big payday.

Canelo Alvarez still in love with the sport

In a conversation with Mike Coppinger for the Ring podcast, the 34-year-old expressed his love for the sport even after 20 years as a professional. “I still enjoy boxing. I love what I do, I love being training camp, being fighting, being in a fight, and I still enjoy it and you know uh I feel really good,” admitted Canelo.

He further claimed that his dedication at this age can even beat a “26-27-28-29-year-old” Canelo Alvarez. He confessed that he started boxing because he was in love with the sport and not with the hopes of making money. And it is the only advice he ever gives to young, up-and-coming fighters as well. “I always say to the young fighters, ‘Hey don’t don’t look boxing like just for the money. The money comes. Do your thing, do good and with discipline with love with everything and the money is going to come’,” said the 34-year-old.

According to Canelo, everything he has earned today is because of his dedication to the sport. In the initial years, he never cared about money and always wanted to fight and prove himself against the best. However, the current lot of boxers disappoint him as most of them are chasing money and not many are doing it for the love of the sport. “Most of the people doing for money. That’s the difference between me and them. I don’t start boxing for money,” explained Canelo Alvarez.

As the conversation proceeded further, the Guadalajara native accepted that monetary satisfaction was also important. However, he believes the way that the young crop of boxers is going towards it is wrong.

Money not the most important thing for Canelo

Canelo added, “Don’t get me wrong. You need to care about the business too, because you risk your life and you deserve everything. But what I want to say, I start this sport not because of the money,” but because of passion.

For Alvarez, this is not a job but more of a hobby that he loves to do. He further talked about how current boxers lay off training completely during their break and go out of shape. He explained, “I think most of them go out of shape because they don’t train. Or they have a fight in front and they don’t go to train one day, two days a week.” However, for him, the gym is like a second home and he is always there no matter what. ” I get there first and I leave last,” stated the 34-year-old, revealing his break schedule. Recently, we saw Edgar Berlanga getting chastised on social media as he was massively out of shape following the Canelo fight.

For the past few years, Canelo Alvarez has started attracting criticism for choosing money fights. His decision to look past David Benavidez and choosing to fight Jaime Munguia and Edgar Berlanga rubbed the fans the wrong way. However, according to the man himself, he has earned the right to choose his opponents. He has fought almost 70 bouts and at this point, he can choose payday as he has proven himself more times than anyone else.

So, it does not look like Canelo Alvarez really minded not being one of the highest-paid boxers last year. Even though he is predicted to top that list in 2025, for him the fight always comes first and he has been like that since the beginning. Do you think the modern crop of boxers are more financially minded? Let us know your thoughts down below.