No Humility? Canelo Alvarez Snubs Himself Out of Top 3 Mexican Boxers for a Completely “Different” Reason

Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson remain signature representatives of boxing. But as it is often said, even the greats have their inspirations. ‘The People’s Champion’ frequently acknowledged the profound influence that ‘Sugar’ Ray Robinson had on his life. While together, both Ali and Robinson, along with Roberto Duran, became the guiding lights for ‘Iron’ Mike. Canelo Alvarez, unarguably, leads the roster of A-listers in boxing’s current generation. So it would be interesting to know the inspirations who swayed the undisputed title holder towards the Mt. Rushmore of the sport.

Better still. He belongs to a country that boasts one of the richest and proudest boxing traditions in the world. Over the years, boxers coming from Mexico developed their own unique fighting style. No wonder; some of the greatest pairs of gloves came from that land. Canelo Alvarez is set for an all-Mexican clash against Jaime Munguia on Saturday. So at a gathering, a reporter decided to check out the three Mexican boxers he would pick as his all-time favorites. Wait. He didn’t name himself. Why? Has he gone so humble? Perhaps he finds himself in a different lane. Let’s find out.

Canelo Alvarez and His Three Cherished Picks

It’s the fourth title defense for the super middleweight champion, who became the undisputed king in 2021. With just a few days left for the fight, a bunch of reporters caught up with the champion during a press conference. One of the journalists asked Canelo Alvarez, “Say, who are your favorites? Who are your top three Mexican fighters ever?”

The undisputed champion promptly took the first name: “Julio Cesar Chavez, Gilberto Roman,” then, taking a few seconds to think, added, “Alacran Torres.” But soon he saw a name thrown at him: “Canelo Alvarez?” Now, with a smile stretching across his face, the Mexican icon replied, “Ah, Canelo Alvarez is different.”

Most boxing fans should be familiar with Julio Cesar Chavez’s name. But how many would be aware of Torres and Roman’s feat remains a big question.

Legends Forever

With an astonishing record of 107 wins against only six losses, Julio Cesar Chavez was undeniably the ‘El César del Boxeo’ (The Caesar of Boxing). Active during the last two decades of the previous century, Cesar Chavez fought until 2005. It took nearly ninety fights before someone could register a defeat against the tough Mexican. His accomplishments include multiple ‘Fighter of the Year’ awards, Ring magazine’s P4P Best Boxer from 1990 to 1993, and multiple titles across three divisions. 

It’s hard to imagine. His career lasted barely a decade, but in that time span, Gilberto Roman amassed a record (54-6-1) that even most modern-day boxers would find hard to break. Sadly, the two-time WBC super flyweight champion and member of the 1980 Mexico Olympic team left the world at the fairly young age of 29 when his car met an accident. Despite his solid build, ‘El Chaparral’s boxing was woven around sound techniques. A master of defensive craft, his punches were reportedly known for their accuracy and economy.

The last of Canelo Alvarez’s all-time favorite Mexican boxers, Efren ‘El Alacran’ Torres, fought from 1959 until 1972. Similar to Gilberto Roman, his career spanned nearly a decade. But within that time period, he had participated in 74 fights, out of which he won 64 and lost nine, with one match ending in a draw. In 1969, he became the WBC and Ring flyweight title holder. The 2007, World Boxing Hall of Fame inductee passed away in February 1990.

So what is your take on Canelo Alvarez’s favorite boxers from Mexico? Please share your views with us in the comments below.