Canelo’s Grudge Match with Saunders: When Rivalry Turned Personal
Some boxing wins just hit different, and it’s clear Canelo Alvarez thinks none was sweeter than his 2021 dismantling of Billy Joe Saunders. More than a title was at stake that night—the Mexican superstar wanted to settle a score. And judging by his latest comments, it was personal from the start.
Months before their May 2021 showdown, Saunders kicked off a clash of egos. He questioned Canelo’s resume, called him overrated, and boasted about having “seen the victory in his mind since childhood.” The Brit, unbeaten at 30-0, talked up his boxing IQ and dodged the respectful etiquette so many challengers had shown Alvarez, poking often at the champion’s pride.
Pre-fight tension went up another notch at press events, with Saunders making the fight feel like more than business. He pushed for minor changes in the ring—like its size—and taunted Alvarez’s team at every opportunity. It rarely rattles Canelo. But this time, the hostility seemed to brew beneath his steady exterior.
The Night Canelo Broke Saunders’ Streak—and His Cheekbone
Inside AT&T Stadium, under the Texas lights, Canelo dismantled Saunders—clinically, methodically, even enjoying it. For seven rounds, the Brit stayed mobile and flicked his jab, but Alvarez hunted him with body shots and had an answer for every move. Then, in the eighth, Canelo unleashed a right uppercut so wicked it didn’t just change the fight—it changed Saunders’ future.
The punch shattered Saunders’ orbital bone and cheekbone. In obvious pain, Saunders barely made it to his stool. Ringside doctors called it, and for the first time in his professional career, Saunders was handed a loss. His 30-0 run was over, and the damage was more than just on the scorecards.
Afterward, Canelo’s words gave a window into his satisfaction. “He’s a bad person,” Canelo said. “I really enjoyed beating him the most.” Hard feelings from all that trash talk hadn’t faded—they’d probably grown stronger. As for the humbled Saunders, he admitted the stoppage was fair: “I didn’t feel out of my league, but my face was smashed. I couldn’t go on.”
Since then, Saunders has spent more time recovering than training. That fight left not just physical scars but questions—will he ever return fully? Meanwhile, Canelo rolled on, piling up more belts, more wins, and more reasons for fans to call him the undisputed king at super-middleweight.
This bout is remembered not just for the technical mastery but for how easily things turned personal. Even in a game built on bravado, some rivalries go deeper, and Canelo versus Saunders was as bitter as it gets. For Canelo, getting the last word—and the last punch—seems to have meant everything.
