Saul Alvarez defeated former three-division champion Shane Mosley (46-8-1, 39 KOs) by 12-round unanimous decision in a WBC light middleweight title fight on Saturday, May 5, 2012 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Scores were 119-109, 119-109 and 118-110. Although Alvarez didn't throw a punch for the first half of round one he slowly worked his way into the fight landing several hooks to Mosley's head at the end of round two. In round three Alvarez suffered a cut over his left eye due to a headbutt which streamed blood down the side of his face intermittently throughout the bout but he didn't panic. He remained composed and powered on battering Mosley round after round turning Mosley's nose and face into a swollen lump. Being a young fighter Canelo has a lot to learn to like starting early, being more active and turning it up a knotch when he has a fighter in trouble. But the kid knows to power his punches, he plants his feet, sets himself and puts plenty of torque into those short compact punches he throws turning them into thudding blows.
Next up for Canelo is a 12-round WBC light middleweight title fight on Saturday, September 15, 2012 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. No opponent has been named yet.
Saul Canelo Alvarez, born in Guadalajara, Mexico is fair skinned with freckles and red hair thus the nickname "Canelo" which is Spanish for cinnamon. Baby faced and only 15 years Alvarez made his pro debut on Saturday, October 29, 2005 at the Arena Chololo Larios in Tonala, Mexico where he beat Abraham Gonzalez (0-2-0, 0 KOs) by 4th round KO.
Alvarez vs Martinez
Alvarez won his first title on Friday, April 18, 2008 at the Salon Marbet Plus, Ciudad Nezahualcoyotl, Mexico beating Gabriel Martinez (17-1-0, 9 KOs) by 12th round RTD. Previously undefeated Martinez to did not come out for the final round. Alvarez took home the WBA Fedecentro welterweight title. The fight was shown on Telemundo making it Alvarez's US television debut.
Alvarez vs Mosley
The first time Alvarez fought on American soil was against Larry Mosley (15-3-2, 6 KOs) on Friday, October 24, 2008 at the Morongo Casino in Cabazon, California. Alvarez beat Mosley by 10-round unanimous decision with scores of 99-91, 97-93 and 96-94. The fight card was televised live on TeleFutura.
Alvarez vs Baldomir
On Saturday, September 18, 2010 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California fighting on the undercard of Shane Mosley vs Sergio Mora, Alvarez knocked out granite chin Carlos Manuel Baldomir (45-13-6, 14 KOs) at 2:58 of round six. Baldomir had only been knocked out once before back in 1994.
Alvarez vs Hatton
Saul Alvarez beat a game and determined Matthew Hatton (41-5-2, 16 KOs) by 12-round unanimous decision on Saturday, March 5, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Scores were 119-108 on all three judges scorecards. Hard punching Alavez shutout Hatton but Hatton hung in there for 12-rounds without being knocked out much to his credit. In addition to his victory Alavarez, in front of the second largest boxing crowd at the Honda Center took home the vacant WBC light middleweight title that Manny Pacquiao vacated in February 2011.
Note: Alvarez failed to make the contracted weight of 150 lbs at weigh-in on Friday coming in at 151.8 lbs at first attempt than at 151.4 lbs two hours later at second attempt. The fight went after Alvarez agreed to pay a penality fee of 20% of his $350,000 purse with 10% ($35,000) going to Hatton and the other $35,000 going to the California State Athletic Commission.
Alvarez vs Rhodes
Alvarez stopped mandatory challenger Ryan Rhodes (45-5-0, 31 KOs) of the United Kingdom by TKO at 0:48 of round twelve on Saturday, June 18, 2011 in front of 12,000 at Arena VFG in Guadalajara, Mexico. Rhodes was knocked down in round four by a right followed by a double jab then another right. By round seven Rhodes' face was busted up from getting hit with so many punches. Body shots also took their toll on Rhodes. In round twelve Alvarez let his hands go hitting Rhodes with multiple combinations prompting the referee to jump in and stop the fight at the same time that Rhodes' corner threw in the towel. In addition Alvarez's victory he has successfully defended his WBC light middleweight title that won in his rout of Matthew Hatton also of the UK on March 5, 2011.
Alvarez vs Gomez
On Saturday, September 17, 2011 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, Alvarez defeated Alfonso Gomez (23-5-2, 12 KOs) by 6th round TKO in a WBC light middleweight title fight. Alvarez knocked Gomez down in round one with a quick short left hook. Then stunned him with an uppercut in round six and proceeded to back him up against the ropes and hit him with a barrage of unanswered punches prompting the referee to step in and stop the fight at 2:36.
Alvarez vs Cintron
Saul Alvarez defeated Kermit Cintron (33-5-1, 28 KOs)
by 5th round TKO in a WBC light middleweight title fight on Saturday, November 26, 2011 at the Monumental Plaza de Toros in Mexico City, Mexico. Alvarez hurt and dropped Cintron with a right hand in round four. Cintron beat the count but was on shaky legs when he got up. At the bell for the end of round four Alvarez hurt Cintron with an overhand right. Cintron, who was held up by ropes and bleeding from a cut on his nose staggered back to his corner. In round five Alvarez overpowered Cintron with a combination of punches which prompted the referee to stop the fight at 2:53 of round five. In addition to his victory Alvarez successfully defended his WBC light middleweight title for the third time. Alvarez called out Mayweather Jr after the fight.
