Canelo Alvarez has developed a reputation as one of the greatest boxers currently active, and is a firm pick in many fans’ pound-for-pound lists.
Canelo will return to the ring next Saturday against William Scull in a bid to become a two-time undisputed super-middleweight champion.
His record currently sits at 62-2-2 and he is coming off a unanimous decision win over Edgar Berlanga.
The Mexican has not won by stoppage since 2021, when Canelo KO’d Billy Joe Saunders and then Caleb Plant.
However, 11 years earlier he produced a thrilling stoppage over a man who faced Floyd Mayweather and signalled the end for Arturo Gatti.
Canelo put down Carlos Baldomir four years after he ended Arturo Gatti’s career
In 2010, Canelo, 33-1, came off a win over Miguel Cotto, who avenged his loss to Antonio Margarito with a KO, and went straight in against Luciano Cuello, winning by knockout.
After the win, he faced 45-12-6 Carlos Baldomir, a man who had shared the ring with legends like Mayweather and Gatti.
Baldomir stopped Gatti, who fought a war with Micky Ward, in the ninth-round of their contest, marking the end of Gatti’s career. Though the legendary Gatti did have one fight a year later, he never tasted victory again after Baldomir’s win over him.
Canelo, however, was too much for Baldomir in their 2010 contest, and stopped him emphatically in the sixth round.
Canelo was unable to finish Ricky Hatton’s younger brother
A year after his win over Baldomir, Canelo faced Matthew Hatton, the younger brother of Ricky Hatton in a challenge for the vacant WBC super welterweight world title.
Canelo was unable to finish Hatton, and the fight went the full twelve rounds, though there was a clear winner as Canelo picked up a near-shutout decision victory over Hatton.
Hatton joked years later: “I still take two paracetamol a day after facing Canelo.”