When it comes to naming his top four greatest fighters of all time, modern day boxing icon Canelo Alvarez includes a left-field choice.
Alvarez has held world titles at super-welterweight, middleweight, super-middleweight and light-heavyweight, becoming the first ever undisputed super-middleweight world champion and then becoming a two-time holder of all four belts in the 168lb division.
On October 31, Canelo is scheduled to compete in his 18th consecutive world title bout as he looks to bounce back from defeat to Terence Crawford and regain the super-middleweight throne at the first time of asking, challenging Christian Mbilli for the WBC title.
Should he be victorious, and return to rule the division at the age of 36 years old, the 68-fight veteran could rise further up the ratings of post-millennial pound-for-pound talents, but defeat to Mbilli could bring about the end of his iconic career.
Speaking ahead of that opportunity, in an interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, Canelo was quizzed on who would make his ‘Mount Rushmore’ of boxing. In response, the Guadalajara-born sensation surprisingly picked out two-time super-flyweight world champion, Gilberto Roman, as well as three more common selections.
“Muhammad Ali, [Sugar] Ray Robinson, Gilberto Román and Julio César Chávez.”
Canelo grew up watching Roman on DVD’s given to him by trainer, Eddy Reynoso, and he has often hailed ‘El Chaparral’ as one of the greatest defensive fighters of all time.
Roman passed away at the age of just 29 years old, but is remembered as one of the best fighters to have graced the 115lb division.
