CANELO ALVAREZ transitioned from selling ice creams as a teenager to becoming boxing`s highest-paid star, and he is now on the cusp of achieving his most significant victory yet.
The celebrated Mexican boxer started working at his father`s shop at the young age of 13 before stepping into the professional ring just two years later.
Now the sport`s top earner and potentially on his way to becoming a billionaire, he credits his father, Santos, for instilling the values that shaped him into the fighter he is today.
Speaking to SunSport in Riyadh, he shared: “I was very happy selling ice creams and looking for my dream. I was very happy then, and right now, being in this situation, my dad and my family still sell ice cream. So I`m very happy to do what I did and what I do right now, and I`m just blessed.”
He added: “My dad showed me how to work, how to respect work, how to be honest, so that made me the man I am today.”
Canelo has claimed world titles in four weight classes, ranging from the 154lb light-middleweight division up to 175lb light-heavyweight.
He currently reigns as the undisputed champion at 168lb super-middleweight and is set to defend his title against American Terence Crawford.
Crawford is widely regarded as the top pound-for-pound boxer globally, holding world championships in four divisions and maintaining an undefeated record across 41 fights.
Crawford is moving up two weight classes (14 pounds) for this bout scheduled for September 13th at the 65,000-seat Las Vegas Raiders stadium, which will be streamed live on Netflix.
A win would undoubtedly be one of the most significant achievements in Canelo`s career, especially if he is the one to inflict Crawford`s first professional defeat.
The fighter, who once scooped ice cream, stated: “He`s going to be one of the best wins of my career for sure.”
While Crawford aims to maintain his perfect record, Canelo remarked: “At this point and at this weight, the pressure is always on me. Whether I`m moving up two weight classes or to light-heavyweight, the pressure is on my side. But I`ve been in this situation many times, and I remain calm.”
“I will use my best boxing IQ and my experience, put my best into the training camp and just go there and win.”
Canelo, whose business partner Richard Schaefer suggests he is on track to become a billionaire, is unfazed by the magnitude of the upcoming fight. In fact, he thrives on such challenges.
The father of three commented: “This is clearly not new territory for me; I`ve been in major fights for a long time. However, these kinds of situations motivate me because my goal has always been to make history, and big fights like this help me achieve that. I`m glad to be here.”
Oliver Croft 
Neville Whittle