Meaning Behind Saul Alvarez’s Famous Nickname ‘Canelo’

Canelo Alvarez needs no introduction to boxing fans as he is already in the conversation as one of the greatest to have stepped into the squared circle. But that’s not his real name. Santos Saúl Álvarez Barragán, the man behind the gloves, built his legend under a nickname that has become bigger than his birth name.

As the Mexican superstar prepares to face Terence Crawford on September 13 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, a historic clash promoted by Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing and streamed worldwide on Netflix, the spotlight isn’t just on the clash. Fans are also asking a simple question: why do they call him ‘Canelo’? The answer may surprise you!

Why is Saul Alvarez called ‘Canelo’? Meaning & story behind the name

Beginning his professional boxing career at just 15, Saul Alvarez announced his arrival onto the scene with a splash as he became the youngest boxer to hold the WBC light middleweight title just 5 years later!

Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, in 1990, his family later settled in Juanacatlán, where he grew up on a farm, learned to ride horses, and sharpened the discipline that boxing would demand. The youngest of eight siblings, he followed in the footsteps of his brothers, many of whom also became professional fighters.

As such, the nickname came naturally. The term Canelo comes from the Spanish word Canelito, which means ‘little cinnamon’. In Mexico, it’s a common label for people with red hair and freckles. As per a story in The Sun, his trainer/manager, Chepo Reynoso, felt the little boy’s look wasn’t the same as most from Mexico. Instead, he had charisma, a subtle face, and red hair, which was absolutely flamboyant.

However, an in-ring Alvarez was totally different. He was fierce, skillful, and always eager to learn. That’s when Reynoso tagged him as ‘Canelito’. But later trimmed it to Canelo. Alvarez has since owned the nickname. Now, Canelo seems to be his prime identity, while most of the boxing fans are unaware of his name being Saul Alvarez. However, that’s not the only nickname he has.

Other nicknames of Canelo Alvarez

Of course, “Canelo” wasn’t his first nickname. At home, his family called him Santitos ie, ‘Little Santos’, since he shared a name with his father. But that stayed within family walls.

The neighborhood kids had other ideas. They teased him with food-inspired nicknames. One of them was Jícama con Chile, a white root vegetable sprinkled with red chili powder, a playful jab at his light skin, freckles, and red hair. Others called him Pecas (freckles), Entomatado (tomatoed), and Enchilado (spicy).

Trainer Chepo Reynoso wasn’t a fan of those taunts. He wanted something softer, something that carried pride. “I wanted it to be something nicer, because he was being called such harsh things,” Reynoso told the LA Times. That’s when ‘Canelito’ ie, ‘Little Cinnamon’, came to life. Over time, it got shortened to Canelo.

And along the way, British fans gave him yet another cheeky nickname: “Brit Basher.” After defeating eight British fighters, including Callum Smith and Billy Joe Saunders, Alvarez laughed off the title. “I’m sorry to say it, but I’ll keep doing it if someone pays me!” he joked.

From childhood taunts to trainer-given pride, every name carried a piece of his journey. But it was Canelo that rose above the rest, becoming a global symbol in the sport!