BOXING’S biggest superstar believes his iron will and four bambinos will stop him joining the sport’s long list of tragic fallen heroes.
Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez is a 30-year-old four-weight world champion, the biggest cash cow in the hurt business and a national icon in fight-mad Mexico.
And the pound-for-pound No1 will own three of the four super-middleweight titles if he can beat brilliant undefeated Brit and WBO champ Billy Joe Saunders in Texas on Saturday.
But the flame-haired powerhouse, who made his pro bow aged just 15, insists he will never fall into the traps that left too many legends before him bankrupt, broken-down and doomed.
Canelo earned around £15 for his fighting debut in 2005.
And when asked how the 11-fight £280million deal he signed in 2018 did not corrupt the youngest of eight kids, he said: “I believe that you are born with a certain mentality and I think that I have that.
“It is not really hard for me to continue in that line.
“I know what I want and I know that to stay on that path I need discipline and to be grounded and I believe that’s the sort of mentality you’re born with.
“My kids will be the ones that keep me grounded. I always think about them before I make any decisions.
“I know the repercussions and the impact that it will have in their life so they are the ones I always think of first.”
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The hardest game really is a family business for Canelo.
All six of his older brothers fought for money and the boxing brood is in the Guinness Book of Records for all seven being on the same 2008 card, with Canelo one of four winners.
So he never hesitates in letting his three daughters and baby son Saul Jr watch him in action, as they have to learn where their luxurious lifestyle comes from.
Canelo said: “Yes they are allowed to watch me fight live. This is what their dad does and they have to watch and support it.
“They really admire what I do so ys, they do watch live.”
The Guadalajara gunslinger has now slain SIX Brits in his illustrious career.
And the 2018 win over Liverpool’s Rocky Fielding looks even more impressive as it has since been revealed he negotiated the release of his kidnapped brother just days before the three-round demolition.
But the 58-fight veteran, with a 2013 points loss to Floyd Mayweather the only defeat, can handle the hottest situations as has ice running through his veins from the family’s other trade.
Canelo said: “My father used to sell ice creams from a truck and I used to help him make them from when I was five to 17 years old.
“Then my family told me to start just devoting my time to boxing. But yeah, I did help him in the ice cream business.
“I used to eat them all of the time.I could eat a litre of shaved ice all by myself in just three minutes.”
Even with the best record in British boxing and world titles at 11st 7lbs and 12st, Saunders remains an unfulfilled talent.
In wins over Andy Lee and David Lemieux the 31-year-old Hatfields man oozed class and flashes of power but his natural talent has allowed him to coast in too many underwhelming bouts.
The southpaw has become more infamous for his trash talk than his quality boxing but Canelo is ready for both this week.
He said: “I think he is a little bit more complicated as a fighter than some of my previous opponents.
“He’s complicated, he is left handed, his movement is good, so it’s going to be a tough one in the early rounds.
“He might try to get under my skin but he won’t achieve that.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
