Fight Freaks Unite

Fight Freaks Unite

A secure legacy, riches have not dampened Canelo's lust for combat

Undisputed super middleweight champion plenty motivated for Saturday's defense against undisputed junior middleweight champion Jermell Charlo

Dan Rafael's avatar
Dan Rafael
Sep 29, 2023
∙ Paid
5
3
1
Share
Order Canelo-Charlo on PPV.com. No subscription required.
A note to Fight Freaks Unite readers: I created Fight Freaks Unite in January 2021 and eight months later it also became available for paid subscriptions for additional content — and as a way to help keep this newsletter going and for readers to support independent journalism. If you haven’t upgraded to a paid subscription please consider it. If you have already, I truly appreciate it! Also, consider a gift subscription for the Fight Freak in your life.

Follow me on Instagram

Subscribe to the podcast

Leave a comment

Order Canelo-Charlo on PPV.com

LAS VEGAS — Canelo Alvarez has done everything he could have possibly dreamed of in boxing, rising from unknown teenage prospect in Guadalajara, Mexico to become an all-time great and the face of the sport.

Alvarez is boxing’s biggest star and the highest paid fighter. He has won world titles in four weight classes from junior middleweight to light heavyweight and had a stretch as the consensus pound-for-pound king.

His legacy is secure and long ago he locked up his eventual Hall of Fame election. Yet, Alvarez is not quite satisfied and still has a hunger to fight.

Despite his riches and having acquired a taste for the finer things in life, he still trains like a madman by all accounts and has not subscribed to the famous quote from the late, great middleweight champing Marvelous Marvin Hagler: “It’s tough to get out of bed to do roadwork at 5 a.m. when you’ve been sleeping in silk pajamas.”

Alvarez said nobody should think that he has slacked off as he gets set to defend the undisputed super middleweight title against undisputed junior middleweight champion Jermell Charlo on Saturday (Showtime PPV and PPV.com, 8 p.m. ET, $84.99) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Alvarez said he is plenty motivated for the fight.

2309_Canelo-vs-Charlo_970x250.jpg
Click banner to order Canelo-Charlo on PPV.com

I’m in Las Vegas covering Canelo-Charlo this week. Upgrade to a paid subscription and make sure you don’t miss any posts. You’ll also have full access to the archive, comments and you will help support independent journalism.

Upgrade to paid


This post is for paid subscribers

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 Dan Rafael
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture