Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, the unified super middleweight champion, has named three boxers he thinks are better than him. The Mexican superstar shared his thoughts in a recent interview with DAZN.
Canelo, now 34, has had an impressive career since his debut at just 15 years old. He's racked up 62 wins, 2 losses, and 2 draws in 66 fights, with 39 knockouts to his name. The champion has won world titles in four weight classes from light middleweight to light heavyweight.
When asked about fighters he considers superior, Canelo didn't hesitate to name Floyd Mayweather. Mayweather outclassed a younger Canelo back in 2013, winning by points decision.
Canelo also mentioned Dmitry Bivol, who beat him in May 2022. Bivol won by scorecards decision in their light heavyweight clash.
The third name on Canelo's list might surprise some fans. He said:
"Muhammad Ali was better than me too."
Interestingly, Canelo didn't include boxing legends like Julio César Chávez, Bernard Hopkins, or Marvin Hagler in his list.
Canelo's next fight is set for May against William Scull. But fans are already looking ahead to a potential September showdown with Terence Crawford. Crawford, a former two-weight undisputed champion and current 154lb ruler, will give up size to the naturally bigger Canelo.
Many boxing enthusiasts were keen to see Canelo face David Benavidez, a fellow super-middleweight who's moved up to light heavyweight. But it looks like Crawford will get the nod for what promises to be a true modern-day super fight.
Canelo's willingness to acknowledge other fighters as better than himself shows a level of humility rare in boxing's upper echelons. It's a refreshing take from one of the sport's biggest stars.
