Canelo Álvarez is not only reigning the super-middleweight division at the moment, but he is also the number one pound for pound boxer in the world, a fighter almost every boxer wishes to face.
The Mexican maestro has even won championships in the light middleweight, middleweight, and even in the light heavyweight divisions, and after sixteen years in professional boxing, enjoys a near-perfect record.
“Near” perfect because even someone like Canelo has one loss recorded in his stats, and that happened almost eight years ago, against none other than the legend who is 50-0 in boxing, Floyd Mayweather.
Canelo Álvarez says he “needed more experience, maturity” against Mayweather
On 14th September 2013, a 23-year-old Canelo Álvarez stepped inside the ring with an experienced 36-year-old Floyd Mayweather, with the WBC and WBA (Super) light middleweight titles on the line.
After a 12-round contest, the three judges scored the fight 114–114, 116–112 and 117–111, earning “Money” his 45th win, as well as Canelo’s WBC belt.
Recently in Mike Tyson’s Hotboxin’ podcast, Canelo made it clear that while on paper its definitely a loss, to him the fight was a lesson that he learned at that time when he was not so mature as a pugilist as he is now.
“When I fought Floyd, I was 23. [I have since matured] so much. I needed more experience, maturity,” Canelo said, “I don’t take that fight like a loss; I take that fight like [a lesson]. I learned from that fight.”