Alvarez faced Mayweather over a decade ago at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. At the time, Canelo was a 23-year-old WBC super-welterweight champion with an impressive 42 wins and 1 draw. Mayweather, then 36, entered the ring as the undefeated WBA super-welterweight champion with a 44-0 record.
The fight ended with Mayweather winning by points decision. While the scorecards were closer than expected, with one judge controversially scoring it 114-114, it marked Canelo's first professional defeat.
On the Full Send Podcast, Alvarez expanded on his three-word assessment of Mayweather:
"He's experienced, he's so smart. He is a complete fighter. He doesn't have power in the punches but when you are that kind of fighter you don't need it."
Mayweather went on to retire with a perfect 50-0 record. Canelo, now 62-2-2, has only lost once more since then, to Dmitry Bivol in May 2022.
Looking ahead, Canelo will face Terence Crawford later this year in what's shaping up to be a pound-for-pound clash. Former world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has already made his prediction for the fight, though the details weren't specified.