Canelo Álvarez's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Canelo Álvarez.

Santos Saúl "Canelo" Álvarez Barragán is a highly accomplished Mexican professional boxer. He has achieved world championships across four weight classes, ranging from light middleweight to light heavyweight, and unified titles in three. Notably, in 2021, he made history as the first undisputed super middleweight champion. He later became a two-time undisputed super middleweight champion in 2025. Álvarez also held the Ring magazine super middleweight title from 2020 to 2025 solidifying his position as a dominant force in boxing.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

2004: Silver Medal at Junior Mexican National Championships

In 2004, Álvarez won the silver medal at the Junior Mexican National Championships, held in Sinaloa.

2005: Junior Mexican National Boxing Champion

In 2005, Álvarez became the Junior Mexican National Boxing Champion in Tuxtla Gutiérrez at the age of 15.

January 2006: Win over Miguel Vázquez

On 20 January 2006, Álvarez won against future IBF lightweight champion Miguel Vázquez in his hometown of Guadalajara, Jalisco.

June 2008: Rematch Victory and Family Fight Night

On 28 June 2008, Álvarez defeated Vázquez again in a rematch, and all six of his brothers fought on the same night.

March 2010: KO Victory Over Brian Camechis

On 6 March 2010, Álvarez achieved a crushing third-round KO over Brian Camechis in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas.

March 2011: WBC Light Middleweight Belt Win

On 5 March 2011, Álvarez defeated European welterweight champion Matthew Hatton via unanimous decision for the vacant WBC light middleweight belt.

June 2011: WBC Title Defense Against Ryan Rhodes

On 18 June 2011, Álvarez successfully defended his newly awarded WBC title against Ryan Rhodes via TKO in the twelfth round in Guadalajara, Jalisco.

September 2011: WBC Title Defense Against Alfonso Gómez

On 17 September 2011, Álvarez successfully defended his WBC title against Alfonso Gómez at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, winning via TKO in the sixth round.

2011: WBC Light Middleweight Title

In 2011, at the age of 20, Álvarez became the youngest boxer to claim the World Boxing Council (WBC) light middleweight title.

2013: WBA and Ring Titles Win and Loss

In 2013, Álvarez beat Austin Trout to win the World Boxing Association (WBA) (Unified version) and Ring titles, but later that year, he lost his WBC and Ring light middleweight titles to Floyd Mayweather Jr.

March 2014: Victory Over Angulo

On 8 March 2014, Álvarez defeated Alfredo Angulo via tenth-round stoppage at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The fight took place at a catchweight of 70 kg (155 lb).

May 2015: Álvarez defeats Kirkland via third-round KO

On May 9, 2015, Canelo Álvarez defeated James Kirkland via a third-round knockout at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. Álvarez knocked Kirkland down in the first and third rounds, marking the first fight of Álvarez's HBO contract and drawing high viewership for HBO in 2015. Kirkland was hospitalized for a CT scan after the bout.

November 2015: Álvarez defeats Cotto to win WBC and Ring middleweight titles

On November 21, 2015, Canelo Álvarez defeated Miguel Cotto by unanimous decision at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, winning the WBC and Ring middleweight titles. The fight took place at a catchweight of 155 lb at Cotto's request, with Álvarez being awarded the WBC Diamond middleweight title two months later.

May 2016: Álvarez knocks out Khan to retain titles

On May 7, 2016, Canelo Álvarez fought Amir Khan at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with Álvarez winning by a knockout in the sixth round to retain his WBC and Ring middleweight titles. The fight generated a live gate of $7,417,350 from 13,072 tickets sold and drew close to 600,000 PPV buys.

2016: WBC, Ring Middleweight Titles and WBO Title

In 2016, Álvarez defeated Miguel Cotto to win the WBC and Ring middleweight titles and beat Liam Smith to win the World Boxing Organization (WBO) title.

2018: Victory over Golovkin

In 2018, Álvarez beat Gennady Golovkin to become the WBA (Super version), WBC, and Ring middleweight champion.

November 2019: Ranked World's Best Boxer

From 7 November 2019, to 7 May 2022, The Ring ranked Álvarez as the world's best boxer, pound for pound.

2019: Álvarez Named Fighter of the Year

For his 2019 campaign, Álvarez was named the fighter of the year by The Ring Magazine, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and the Boxing Writers Association of America.

2019: WBA Super Middleweight and IBF Middleweight Titles

In 2019, Álvarez beat Rocky Fielding for the WBA super middleweight title (Regular version) and won the International Boxing Federation (IBF) middleweight title from Daniel Jacobs. He also knocked out Sergey Kovalev to claim the WBO light heavyweight title.

2019: Forbes List 2019

In 2019, Álvarez made Forbes' list as one of the highest-paid athletes in the world, ranking 4th with $94 million.

2020: Ring Magazine Super Middleweight Title

From 2020 to 2025, Canelo Álvarez held the Ring magazine super middleweight title.

2021: Undisputed Super Middleweight Champion

In 2021, Álvarez became the first boxer in history to become the undisputed super middleweight champion.

2021: Sportico List 2021

In 2021, Álvarez made Sportico's list as one of the highest-paid athletes in the world, ranking 12th with $63 million.

2022: Forbes and Sportico List 2022

In 2022, Álvarez made Forbes' list as one of the highest-paid athletes in the world, ranking 8th with $90 million, and also made Sportico's list, ranking 5th with $89 million.