Saul “Canelo” Alvarez just dropped a bombshell that will shake up the boxing world: the Mexican superstar believes he has only “three, four more fights” left in his legendary career. This stunning revelation came on “The Ariel Helwani Show,” days after he turned 36 years old, as he announced a rescheduled October 31 date for his WBC super middleweight title challenge against Christian Mbilli in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. After more than 20 years and 68 professional fights, it seems the countdown for one of boxing’s giants has officially begun.
The Brutal Truth About Canelo’s Motivation
You’d think a guy who’s been pulling in eight-figure paydays for over a decade and has a 63-3-2 record with 39 KOs would be fighting for one thing: the cash. But Canelo laid it out clear: money isn’t his main driver anymore. He’s financially set, he’s done everything in boxing, he doesn’t “need anything.” So why keep going through those brutal training camps and adapting to different opponents? Because he loves it. “It makes me feel alive,” he said. “I was born for this.” He enjoys it, he loves the grind, and he needs to keep his mind busy. Breaking records is still a huge motivation. This isn’t just a job for Canelo; it’s his lifeblood.
But here’s the kicker, the part that makes this feel so urgent: his body is telling a different story. Canelo has battled through three surgeries in seven years. We’re talking a knee operation in 2018, a medical procedure for his left wrist in 2022, and then last October, elbow surgery forced him to skip his annual May fight. He even admitted he couldn’t train properly for his 2022 loss to Dmitry Bivol, and you’ve seen him out there wearing a knee brace during multiple fights. The signs are there, folks. His performances have been on the decline, with no inside-the-distance win in almost five years, and his general output shrinking fight by fight. The man’s body has a timer, and he knows it.
What’s Next for the Undisputed King?
So, with maybe four fights left, what’s Canelo focused on? He’s all in, “until the end.” After boxing, he plans to keep exercising and boxing, but his sights are set on “other goals” that he’ll dedicate 100% of his time to. And don’t even think about him becoming a promoter. He wants no part of the battles with guys like Dana White or Eddie Hearn. “I don’t want to be involved in that kind of stuff,” he declared. He’ll miss the “sweet science,” sure, but he’s already accomplished “pretty much everything.”
This Oct. 31 WBC super middleweight title challenge against Christian Mbilli isn’t just another fight; it’s the start of Canelo’s final chapter. Get ready, because these last few fights are going to be a ride, a chance to watch a legend truly go out on his own terms.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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