“Hope of hope”: the day Canelo and Sheinbaum joined gloves and will to change the fate of thousands of young Mexicans

What began as a simple meeting between a determined president and a boxing champion has become, two years after his birth, one of the most ambitious and transformative social projects in the recent history of Mexico.“Hope of hope”, led by Claudia Sheinbaum and Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez, it is not just a sports program; It is a silent revolution that has touched the heart of the most marginalized communities in the country.

In May 2025, the school dropout and youth crime rates in areas such as Neza-Chalco, Ciudad Juárez and Culiacán exceeded 60%. The situation was critical. It was then that Sheinbaum, reviewing reports in the National Palace, made an unusual but strategic decision: to summon Canelo Álvarez not as a celebrity, but as an agent of change.

The boxer, known for his strong discipline and humble origins, soon accept. But he put a condition: he would not lend his image if he could not get involved personally. Thus he was bornHope of hope, a network of community centers that combine sports, education and culture, designed to rescue young people at social risk.

The first center opened its doors in Neza-Chalco between protests from neighbors who feared that boxing would incite violence. But it was Canelo, in person, who faced the dissatisfied and spoke to them from their experience: “Boxing did not make me violent. It gave me discipline and purpose. Give me three months, and if it does not improve the community, we close it.”

The transformation was amazing. In six months, school dropout rates decreased 30% and youth crime, 25%. But the most shocking thing was the story of Miguel Ramírez, a young man who left school to work and, thanks to the center, recovered two school years, won his first amateur fight and today represents Mexico in international tournaments.

The model soon was replicated in Ciudad Juárez, Oaxaca, Acapulco, Tijuana and Yucatán. Each center was adapted to its context: in Oaxaca Zapotec craft workshops were incorporated; In Mérida, traditional Mayan boxing. The idea was clear: not impose, but integrate.

“We are sowing future, not only training boxers,” said Sheinbaum during the inauguration of the center in San Pablo Etla, where young people not only learn to defend themselves, but also to cultivate, dance, study and dream.

The program caught international attention. The UN recognized it as an exemplary model of public policy for youth, and delegations from Colombia, Brazil and Spain visited the centers to study them. But perhaps the most emotional moment occurred in September, when five young beneficiaries – among them Miguel, Jacinto and Sitlali – spoke to the United Nations General Assembly.

“They didn’t give us only a ring. They gave us a purpose,” said Miguel, in a firm voice. “Our origin does not define our destiny. That is the real blow of hope.”

Canelo, from the front row, could not contain the emotion. His face, accustomed to battle, reflected something deeper: the pride of having sown a legacy that transcends the titles and medals.

Hoy,Hope of hopeIt is not just a program. It is a movement. A reminder that when sports, education and political will align, Mexico can reinvent itself from the inside.A young man at the same time. A blow at the same time. One community at the same time.And as Canelo said: “My belts will one day go to a showcase. But this … this will live in every heart that decides to fight for their future.”