Is Canelo Alvarez the Greatest Mexican Boxer? Here’s How His Record Fares Against Julio César Chávez Sr., Erik Morales, Salvador Sanchez, and Other Legends

What does it mean to be the greatest? Is it about titles and accomplishments, or is it about carving out a space in people’s hearts? A passionate fan will sit down for hours and debate who they consider the greatest. If you are lucky, you might come across a Mexican fan who appreciates heat and aggression from the likes of Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. and Erik Morales and is glued to the screen whenever a more methodical Canelo Alvarez fights.

But the persistent question remains. Who is the greatest Mexican fighter? You can have your pick after adding Salvador Sanchez, Marco Antonio Barrera, and Juan Manuel Márquez to the mix. Mexico has produced one of the most prolific fighters to date and keeps churning out champions, dating back to 1913 with Juan Zurita. Hence, where would you place the current face of boxing and the dominant champion, Canelo Alvarez? Maybe the greatest?

Why Canelo Alvarez is lauded as the greatest Mexican fighter of all time? 

For starters, the Mexican fighter is the only undisputed champion in Mexican history. Not to mention, he has won the title in four distinct divisions, from light middleweight to light heavyweight. As a result, the scales of a weight category do not restrict his greatness. The 33-year-old also has enough fuel left in him to go on for at least a couple more years and continue terrorizing his opponents.

His impressive record of 59-2-2 speaks volumes about his glory and dominance. His first loss came against Floyd Mayweather in 2013 when he was merely 23 years old. However, he soon bounced back and learned from his mistakes. His undefeated juggernaut crushed fighters in the squared circle until, very recently, Dmitry Bivol stopped it last year.

In addition, the Mexican fighter has excelled at the business side of things and has a swollen net worth of $200 million. Despite this, when he went the distance in his homecoming fight with John Ryan, Oscar De La Hoya made one thing clear. Taking a jibe at Alvarez, De La Hoya penned, “Nobody will ever be Julio Cesar Chavez.”

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But is it so? While Alvarez has yet to settle the debate when the veterans are the judges, the exciting new-age fighters are more inclined toward him. Likewise, Ryan Garcia once told TMZ Sports, “Oh yeah, without a doubt. He’s [Canelo Alvarez] the best.” So how does Alvarez fare against the other candidates, often pitched as the greatest Mexican fighters?

Where does Canelo Alvarez stand in comparison to Mexican legends like Julio Cesar Chavez Sr, Erik Morales, Salvador Sanchez, Marco Antonio Barrera, and Juan Manuel Márquez?

Let’s start with the man, myth, and legend, Julio Cesar Chavez. ‘JC’ finished with a remarkable record of 107-6-2 and an undefeated streak of 89-0-1 that defined his boxing career. If numbers are your thing, then his record for most championship fights, at 37, and attendance record for a boxing fight with 132,274 fans might interest you.

Therefore, when Mexican great Juan Manuel Márquez declared, “Julio Cesar Chavez number one,” the statement shouldn’t turn heads. Meanwhile, Marquez himself gave Mexico one of the iconic sports moments when he dropped Manny Pacquiao. His resume also lists four titles in four weight classes. And, most notably, a win over Marco Antonio Barrera that made him the WBC super featherweight champion.

On the other hand, Barrera is famed for his trilogy with Erik Morales. He famously took down the likes of Paulie Ayala, Robbie Peden, Rocky Juarez, Juan Manuel Márquez, Manny Pacquiao, and Amir Khan. ‘El Baron’ ended his career with a 67-7-1 record, holding multiple championships and entering 25 championship fights, winning 21 and losing just four.

Coming to another great on the list, Morales has registered himself in the history books. He became the first Mexico-born boxer to become a champion in four weight classes. ‘The Terrible’ had a prolonged career, unlike Salvador Sanchez, whose untimely death at 23 left the boxing community in shock in 1982. Many still continue to speculate about what could have happened to his illustrious career, which was cut short after only two years as a champion.

Accordingly, the debate about the greatest Mexican boxer can rage on forever. But Alvarez himself doesn’t want to be a part of it. He wants to make his own history. The Guadalajara native himself once said, “We’ve had a lot of great fighters [from Mexico] before and in the present. I just want to be one of the best.”

What do you make of Canelo Alvarez’s case for the greatest Mexican fighter? Does he rank first on your list? Let us know in the comments below.

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