The world boxing panorama changed drastically in 2025 after the confrontation between two of the best exponents of today. In a fight that defined the undisputed 168-pound championshipthe Mexican Saul Canelo Alvarez lost on points after twelve rounds facing Terence Crawford.
This result represented the Mexican’s first fall in the super middleweight category and generated an in-depth analysis of his current physical condition.
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Even though Crawford moved up the ranks with little previous experience at 154 and 168 poundshis technical strategy surpassed the power of the Guadalajara.
The judges handed out cards of 116-112, 115-113 and 115-113 at the desire of the American, who retired shortly after this victory.
For Canelo Alvarez, This setback meant a moment of reflection on the wear and tear accumulated after more than five hundred rounds contested in his professional career.
Physical factors that affected performance in the ring
In one interview given to the Mr Versace podcastthe Mexican boxer admitted that his preparation and body response were not up to the demands of the fight.
Canelo Alvarez pointed out that, despite his intentions to show agilityhis limbs did not react optimally during the fight. The fatigue in his legs was a determining factor that limited his ability to respond to his opponent’s attacks.
“A lot of things went wrong. My body didn’t respond the way I wanted, because I wanted to be faster, and this and that, and then I didn’t gain the weight back like I should have.”. My legs also felt a little tired. But he deserved all the credit. He had a better strategy than me, but I think I did it well… It is what it is, you have to accept defeats, learn from them and move forward,” he stated. Canelo Alvarez.
Communication with the technical team and injuries
The athlete also mentioned that his coach’s instructions, Eddy Reynosowere clear, but the execution was cut short by unexpected cramps.
This lack of motor response prevented adjustment of the strategy as the episodes progressed. Canelo Alvarez He emphasized that these errors occurred both in the ring and in the training camp prior to the World Cup.
“He [Eddy Reynoso] He explained everything to me, I tried, but my body didn’t respond. I had leg cramps. He didn’t respond the way I wanted. We learn from that and move on. I know what mistakes I made in the fight and also in camp. That’s what boxing is about. Winning doesn’t mean always winning. You have to learn everything”he explained Canelo Alvarez.
Upcoming commitments and medical recovery
After assimilating the results of 2025, the boxer prepares to resume its activity in September of this year within the super middleweight division.
A dispute that could favor his performance is the recent elbow surgery he underwent to correct a persistent injury. This surgical intervention seeks to eliminate the discomfort that conditioned your training in previous periods.
The return of Canelo Alvarez is shaping up to be a dispute for the world title, with Christian Mbilli as the adversary with the greatest chance of completing the agreement.
The boxing community remains attentive to the evolution of the 35-year-old fighter, who seeks to demonstrate that the adjustments to his equipment and his physical recovery are enough to regain his position at the top of the sport.
Keep reading:
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- Eddy Reynoso has a clear outlook for the fight between Ramírez and Benavídez
