Canelo Álvarez challenges Juan Manuel Márquez to a spectacular fight: “I will knock him out, I’m not Pacquiao”
The boxing world is boiling after the surprising escalation in the dispute between the Mexican superstars Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez and Juan Manuel Márquez. After the recent verbal attack by Canelo to Márquez, where he said that the only legendary moment in Márquez’s career was his knockout in 2012 about Manny Pacquiao, the ex -champion of four divisions counteratacó, stating that he could “end” Canelo in the ring. Without giving up, Canelo has released a bold challenge, proposing a high -risk fight with his titles at stake and even promising to retire if he loses.
In a passionate statement on May 28, 2025, during a press conference in Guadalajara, Canelo did not walk with Rodeos: “With you I would box, and if I lose against you, I retire from boxing. I accept the contest with pleasure, I put all my championships, the weight that he says… I am going to knock him out, I am not Pacquia.” The provocative response has shocked the world of boxing, reviving interest in a possible confrontation between two of the most emblematic boxers in Mexico.
The dispute began when Márquez criticized Manny Pacquiao’s decision to return to the ring at age 46 to face Mario Barrios for the WBB Wéter title, questioning the legitimacy of the fight. Canelo, a firm defender of Pacquiao, dismissed Márquez’s legacy, arguing that he depended solely on his famous knockout about the Philippine legend, and described the rest of his career as “only complaints.” Márquez, a venerated figure with a record of 56-7-1 and titles in the pen, superploum, light and superligero divisions, responded by stating that he could defeat Canelo, the current supermedian weight champion with a 62-2-2 record.
Canelo’s challenge is not precedent, since it offers to risk its supermedian titles of the AMB, the WBB, the OMB and the FIB and fight in the category that Márquez chooses. Álvarez, 34, after a unanimous decision victory over William Scull, is at the top of his career, while Márquez, now 51, has been retired since 2014, but is still one of the favorites of the fans for his technical brilliance and granite chin. The possibility of an exhibition or professional fight between them has generated great enthusiasm, and social networks in social networks speculate on the result of a generational duel.
The promoters already talk about the possibility of a megaple, possibly at the Azteca stadium in Mexico City, which could bring together a record crowd. However, doubts about Márquez’s ability to return to competitive boxing after more than a decade of absence persist, especially against a younger and older champion as a canelo. Critics argue that Márquez’s statement is bold but unrealistic, while his supporters highlight his history of challenging probabilities, such as his knockout about Pacquiao in his fourth encounter.
The boxing community longs for Márquez’s response to the bold called Canelo. Will the legendary “dynamite” accept the challenge and return to the ring for a fight that will define his career? Or will it stay in a verbal debate? While Canelo prepares for his next confrontation with Terence Crawford on September 13, 2025 and Pacquiao for his return against Barrios, this passionate exchange has added a new touch of drama to one year already exciting for boxing. One thing is safe: a Canelo-Márquez fight, if necessary, would be a historical event that could redefine the legacy of both boxers.
