‘I’m Ready’: Canelo Alvarez Looks to Correct Past Mistakes

Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez (63-3-2, 39 KOs) is making a comeback after a year-long hiatus, as he prepares to challenge Christian Mbilli (29–0–1, 24 KOs) for his WBC super middleweight title on Saturday. With only a few days left for fight night, there is only one thing in Alvarez’s mind: not to repeat the mistakes that he made against Terence Crawford.

On DAZN’s Saul documentary, he opened up about how the loss helped him see all the flaws that show up, even after training camp.

“When you lose, you always think a lot, look back at your mistakes, and at this level, this much (as he shows a small distance with his fingers) this much is between a win and a loss. No matter if you do a good training camp, if your mind is not there 100 percent, then that is different. In this level you need to be a 100 percent in everything,” he said.

Canelo’s loss to Crawford was more than a routine upset on the scorecards; it was a rare fight in which the Mexican star looked unable to impose himself physically or tactically, losing a clear unanimous decision, 116-112 and 115-113 twice, while Crawford became undisputed at 168.

The defeat subsequently forced a more uncomfortable reckoning; he underwent left-elbow surgery, endured his longest layoff in six years, and later admitted that the problem was not simply physical. He has repeatedly said that although his camp was good, his mind was not fully in the fight, with other matters during fight week distracting him and leaving him less than 100 percent mentally.

Now, as he approaches the Mbilli fight, rather than simply trying to reinvent himself technically, he has emphasized getting the fundamentals and preparation right, giving himself enough time when he isn’t ready, refusing to push through distractions, and making sure his physical and mental condition are aligned before camp.

“I feel great. I don’t know how he feels, and I don’t really care how he feels. I care about how I feel, and I feel strong and ready to step in the ring again. Mbilli is a great fighter. He’s a tough fighter. He throws a lot of punches, and he’s a champion for a reason. I’m just glad to go face a champion, and I’m ready for that,” he said.

“Styles Make Fights”

However, he seems to have found support in a rather unlikely place: his former opponent Crawford.

“Styles make fights, and Mbilli’s style is tailor-made for Canelo. Mbilli can’t do nothing but press Canelo,” Crawford said as he sat on the panel of DAZN’s The Fight. “I don’t see him beating Canelo in a boxing match. I think his best success will be letting his hands go, roughing Canelo up and making it a dogfight.”

Joshua Ben Joseph

Joshua Ben Joseph is a Boxing writer renowned for his unparalleled coverage of live events and insightful interviews with prominent athletes in the world of combat sports. With a career spanning over several years, he has authored more than 800 articles. As an experienced editorial cartoonist and investigative journalist, Joshua has a keen eye for detail and a passion for delivering quality content. Aside from his writing, Joshua is an avid powerlifter and solo traveler, embodying the same spirit of determination and exploration that he brings to his work. With a deep love for the sport of boxing that dates back to childhood, he is committed to delivering the highest quality content and helping to build a more transparent and credible industry.

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