On this day — Canelo Álvarez beat Jermell Charlo 3 years ago

Three years ago today, Canelo Álvarez defended his undisputed middleweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">super-middleweight crown against Jermell Charlo in a bout that answered one of boxing's most compelling questions: could a dominant champion from a lower division make the leap and trouble the sport's biggest draw? The Mexican star, entering with a record of 68 wins, three losses and two draws, won by unanimous decision to cement his stranglehold on the division. Charlo, who had held unified titles at welterweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light-middleweight, stepped up two weight classes in search of history but found himself outworked and outclassed over twelve rounds in Las Vegas.

Where they were

Álvarez arrived as the undisputed ruler at middleweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">super-middleweight, having swept up all four belts with a string of victories that confirmed his status as pound-for-pound royalty. His résumé at one-sixty-eight was formidable, and the question was less about his readiness than whether any challenger could crack the code. Charlo, meanwhile, was testing uncharted waters. Though he carried a fearsome reputation as a unified champion at one-fifty-four, the jump to super-middleweight represented both a career-defining opportunity and a significant physical gamble. The pre-fight narrative centred on whether his power and timing would translate against a naturally bigger man.

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What happened

On 30 September 2023, Canelo Álvarez defeated Jermell Charlo by UD at Canelo vs. Charlo.

The legacy

The result reinforced Álvarez's dominance at middleweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">super-middleweight and underscored the peril of ambitious weight jumps, even for elite fighters. Charlo's bid to become a two-division undisputed champion fell short, and the decision sent him back to the drawing board at his natural weight. For Álvarez, the victory was another tick on an already glittering record, proof that his reign at one-sixty-eight was not yet ready to end. The bout also quieted talk of Charlo as an immediate threat to the division's throne, clarifying the gap between unified success at welterweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light-middleweight and conquering the sport's premier stage.

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Frequently asked questions

Who won Canelo Álvarez vs Jermell Charlo?

Canelo Álvarez won by UD on 30 September 2023.

How long ago was Canelo Álvarez vs Jermell Charlo?

The fight took place 3 years ago at Canelo vs. Charlo.

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