In 2024, the former champion Julio César Chávez said that Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez still lacked one thing. “La verdad, yo siento que al ‘Canelo’ le falta una guerra” (The truth is, I feel Canelo is missing a war).
A war in the ring, he said, “es lo único que le falta para ganarse todo el cariño y el respeto de los mexicanos” (is the only thing he lacks to win all the affection and respect of Mexicans). (Video in Spanish.)
Canelo has described the Mexican style differently. In 2021 he told ESPN: “Para mí, no es el estilo mexicano ir y recibir golpes, y dar y que te tumben y levantarte” (For me, the Mexican style is not to go in and take punches, to give and get knocked down and get up).