Canelo Álvarez hints at his retirement: Is the last chapter of the boxing legend near?
Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez, the undisputed supermedian champion and one of the biggest boxing stars, has caused shock in sport with recent comments that suggest that his retirement could be imminent. At 34, the Mexican icon, who has captivated fans with his tireless thrust and brilliance in the ring, hinted that perhaps only a few years are left in the ring. While preparing for a spectacular fight against Terence Crawford on September 13, 2025, speculation about his future intensifies, with promoters such as Eddie Hearn predicting that this fight could mark the end of the legendary Canelo career. With a legacy already founded, what does this mean for boxing and the next generation of boxers?
Canelo’s trajectory, from a 15 -year prodigy to world champion in four divisions, has been remarkable. With a 63-2-2 record, including 39 knockouts, he has defeated opponents such as Gennady Golovkin, Dmitry Bivol and, more recently, William Scull, recovering the indisputable title of supermedian weight on May 3, 2025. His domain in the 168-pound category since 2018, added to his huge number of global followers (with more than 19 million 19 million followers on Instagram), have made it a cultural and sports phenomenon. However, his recent actions, including a dazzled unanimous decision against Scull, have generated criticisms of figures such as Bob Arum, who described Canelo as “boring” and suggested that he is no longer the dynamic boxer who once dominated multiple categories of weight
The next fight against Crawford, a great pound boxer by Libra that ascends two divisions to compete for Canelo’s titles, is announced as one of the most important clashes of 2025. The fluidity of Crawford movements and its intelligence in the ring represents a unique challenge, and some, like Shakur Stevenson, predict with audacity that they could not only defeat To Canelo. Eddie Hearn, expromotor of Canelo, believes that the physical wear of the training camps and the attractiveness of a huge gain for his four fighting contract of the Riad season – potentially $ 400 million – could lead Canelo to retire after this fight. “I think the fight against Crawford will be the last one,” Hearn told Ring magazine, citing the “father time” and the strenuous demands of elite preparation. Publications in X are echoed from this feeling, with some fans speculating that Canelo could withdraw before facing Crawford, although others discard such comments as premature giving their financial eagerness and pride.
Canelo’s own words feed the rumor about his retirement. In 2023, he told Boxing Scene that he imagined fighting “four, perhaps five” more years, a term that aligns with his current age and recent comments about the decline of his career. His business insight, praised by his manager Richard Schaefer, positions him to become the first multimillionaire of boxing, with projects that extend beyond the ring. However, the Mexican star is still motivated by her legacy and expresses her enthusiasm to face Crawford: “He is one of the best there is, and I like to share the ring with that type of boxer.” However, his recent actions – with only 56 blows against Scull – have generated scrutiny, and Andreas Hale, of ESPN, lowered it to the number 7 of the pound ranking per pound. Critics argue that their lack of emblematic knockouts since 2021 indicates a decline, although Canelo attributes it that opponents such as Scull prioritize survival on combat.
The boxing world is also pending who could fill Canelo’s void. The next generation of Mexicans, including fighters such as Jaime Munguía and Gilberto Ramírez, is ready to take the post, with Ramírez potentially facing Jake Paul in a high profile fight. Canelo’s cultural impact – marked by Mariachis, vibrant walks to the ring and his war cry of “Long live Mexico, bastards!” – He has put the bar very high, making it irreplaceable for now. Their fights have promoted the sport, attracting massive crowds and payment purchases per event, and its September confrontation with Crawford is expected to be scheduled for September 13 under the inaugural promotion of Tko Boxing, it is not the exception.
While Canelo prepares for what could be his last act, the boxing community wonders if he will withdraw in his own terms – unquestionable, rich and venerated – or if Crawford’s challenge will expose its vulnerabilities. In any case, its legacy as a Mexican icon and one of the largest boxing of all time is assured. Will Canelo retire after September, or do you have a last knockout to silence skeptics? The ring will say it.
