Canelo Álvarez counterattacks Juan Manuel Márquez with a daring fighting challenge: “If I lose, I retire!”
The boxing world is full of emotion after the undisputed supermedian weight champion, Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez, launched a fierce challenge to the legend of Mexican boxing Juan Manuel Márquez, intensifying his dispute until he became a possible combat of great success.
In a shocking response to Márquez’s statement that he could “end” Canelo, the 34 -year -old superstar promised to risk his titles, promising to knock Márquez and even betting his career to the result. “If I lose against you, I retire from boxing,” Canelo said, preparing the ground for what could be one of the most dramatic fights in the history of Mexican boxing.
The verbal exchange began when Márquez, former world champion in three divisions and one of Canelo’s most staunch critics, revived his rivalry in the podcastThe corner of the ko. Márquez, known as “Dynamite,” criticized the choice of opponents of Canelo, claiming that he selects fighters whom he can master to protect his brand.
He even affirmed that he could defeat Canelo in the ring, citing his technical skill and his legendary career, which includes a legendary knockout to Manny Pacquiao in 2012. Canelo, recent answer. “With you I would box, and if I lose against you, I retire from boxing,” Canelo said, he saidMark. “I accept the contest with pleasure, I put all my championships, the weight he says … I am going to knock him out, I am not Pacquiao.”
The bold challenge of Canelo, which includes offering to fight in any weight that Márquez chooses and putting his titles of the AMB, the WBB, the OMB and the FIB into play, has shocked the boxing community. The mockery, “I am not Pacquiao,” refers to the iconic knockout in Márquez’s sixth assault on the Philippine legend, which implies that Canelo believes that it is a much more difficult challenge.
The publications in X captured the intensity, with @Soycristianrey remembering a moment of 2013 when Canelo challenged Márquez in 154 pounds, only for Márquez to refuse, feeding the speculation about whether “dynamite” will accept this time. Fans are divided, with some by praising Canelo’s confidence: “Canelo would destroy Márquez in 168, no doubt,” wrote @boxeofanmx, while others support Márquez’s experience, with @dinamitafan arguing, “Márquez’s counterattack could teach Canelo.”
Márquez, now 51 years old and retired since 2014, has not fought professionally in more than a decade, which makes the perspective of a return against a cinnamon at his best moment is discouraging. His career, marked by 56 victories (40 KO), 7 losses and 1 draw, includes epic battles against Pacquiao, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Díaz.
However, his last fight at 41 and the lack of recent activity in the ring raises doubts about his ability to compete at the level of Canelo. Canelo, with a 63-2-2 record (39 KO), is at the top of his power, having dominated recent opponents such as Jaime Munguía and Edgar Berlanga. His May 2025 victory over Scull, although criticized as disappointing by some media, consolidated his status as twice undisputed champion of supermedian weight.
The dispute has deep roots. Márquez has repeatedly accused Canelo of avoiding elite challengers as David Benavidez, an accusation that Canelo dismissed in 2024, mocking Márquez’s predictions that fighters like Jermall Charlo and Billy Joe Saunders would defeat him. Canelo’s response on social networks, with emojis of laughter, highlighted his victories about those opponents.
Márquez also criticized the use of rehydration clauses by Canelo, describing them as “disrespectful” to sport, which further fueled the animosity. Canelo’s last reply, hinting that Márquez’s criticisms come from envy, has only intensified the bad streak.
A fight between Canelo and Márquez, although unlikely given the age and retirement of Márquez, would be a cultural phenomenon in Mexico, facing two of the best boxers in the country. Canelo’s disposition to risk his legacy, promising to retire if he loses, adds an unprecedented challenge.
The fight would also test Canelo’s statement that he is not afraid A lost battle.
While the boxing world awaits Márquez’s response, the challenge has already generated heated debates. Will “dynamite” come out of retirement for a last chance of glory, or the provocation of Canelo will be unanswered? One thing is safe: this dispute has revived the passion for Mexican boxing, and the perspective of a cinnamon vs. Márquez is a tempting dream for fans around the world.
