Saul Alvarez turned pro in 2005 and immediately made an impact in boxing. The 35-year-old is a multi-division champion and the two-time undisputed super middleweight king.
Born in Mexico, Alvarez has been omnipresent on the sport's feted pound-for-pound lists for the past decade.
Throughout his boxing career, Alvarez has been recognized worldwide as simply “Canelo.” Like Madonna, Usher, Cher, Zendaya, Beyonce and Drake, only one name is required for this boxing superstar.
The Sporting News looks at the reasoning behind Alvarez’s unique nickname.
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What does Canelo mean in Spanish?
"Canelo" is shortened from "canelito," which means "little cinnamon" in Spanish.
How did Canelo Alvarez get his nickname?
When he was younger, Canelo would train in gyms led by Eddy Reynoso, his longtime trainer, and friend. Reynoso gave him the nickname due to his ginger-colored hair and pale skin.
Per The Sun, his look was different than most Mexican fighters, and his fierce style in the ring resulted in what ultimately became the “Canelo” nickname.
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Is Canelo Alvarez Irish?
Despite what many may believe due to his red hair, Canelo is not considered Irish. However, he may have Irish roots.
Per The Sun, the proud Mexican warrior’s full name is Santos Saul Alvarez Barragan. Barragan is the Mexican spelling of Berrigen, an old Irish name.
Essentially Sports added that Canelo had an ancestor who participated in Saint Patrick's Battalion during the 1840s Mexican–American War. It featured Irish exiles fighting for Mexico against the United States.
That could be what Canelo meant when he told reporters, “There might have been an Irish grandfather somewhere there in my past.”
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Other Canelo Alvarez nicknames
As a child, people would call him "Santitos" per Marca, which can be related to his cheerful and energetic nature.
The name also comes from “Santos,” which is part of his full name.
Canelo has also been known as "Brit Basher." That nickname comes from his perfect record against U.K. boxers.
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