The face of boxing, Canelo Alvarez, is back in action this weekend in a superfight for the ages. Standing opposite him will be the undefeated star Terence Crawford, who’s making a couple of moves up in the weight classes to battle ‘Saul’. Also, the undisputed super middleweight title will be on the line in a fight that has been billed as Once In A Lifetime.

Canelo Alvarez started his career way back when he was 15 years old, knocking out grown men when he was not even an adult. Since then, he has evolved into a complete fighter and is on the verge of making history. The Mexican champion ducks and weaves in the ring, with his trademark ginger hair and freckles—it’s also why he is called ‘Cinnamon’. This makes us wonder where his ethnic roots lie. Let’s find out!

What are Canelo Alvarez’s ethnicity and nationality?

We can’t deny Canelo Alvarez’s look, as it is often associated with the Irish identity. Nothing about the pale ginger with freckles screams out ‘Mexican’. In fact, many could, and even have, mistaken him for being Irish. But the fact of the matter is that ‘Saul’ is a proud Mexican citizen. As far as his ethnicity is concerned, Alvarez has Latin American Spanish roots. He represents Guadalajara in Mexico, a country known for its history of producing fierce boxing warriors, among whom Canelo is probably the most successful. 

Canelo Alvarez’s parents, Santos Alvarez and Ana María Barragán, are originally from the state of Michoacán, Mexico. They later moved to Jalisco in the 1990s in search of better opportunities for their family. Settling in Guadalajara, they started a small business selling ice pops in the San Juan de Dios Market to support their eight children.

Canelo and his siblings often helped by selling the products on public transportation, sometimes earning up to 700 pesos a week. Though the family business no longer exists, Canelo has never forgotten his roots. Today, he financially supports his parents as a gesture of gratitude for their hard work and sacrifices, crediting them for helping lay the foundation for his success in boxing. Now, let’s move over to learn about another aspect of his: his religious affiliation.

Canelo Alvarez’s Religion – A Devout Catholic Faith

Canelo Alvarez, the former undisputed super middleweight champion, is a devout Catholic. His faith plays a significant role in his life, evident from his November 2017 visit to Pope Francis in Rome. This trip was deeply personal for Alvarez, reflecting his long-held desire to connect with the Pope. 

His Catholic faith is an integral part of his identity, influencing both his personal values and his approach to his boxing career. Known for his dedication in the ring, Alvarez also embodies a strong sense of spirituality, which he openly integrates into his public life. 

Is Canelo Alvarez Irish?

According to family legend, an ancestor of Canelo Alvarez fought in the St. Patrick’s Brigade of Irish exiles for Mexico in the 1840s war against the United States. Canelo himself has admitted, “There might have been an Irish grandfather somewhere there in my past.” Another telling factor of his possible Irish ancestry is his name.

Canelo Alvarez’s full name is Santos Saul Alvarez Barragan, and according to the history of his name, the name Barragan is the Mexican spelling of the Irish name, Berrigan. Well, Canelo might have some Irish heritage after all. Just like we mentioned above, Alvarez has signs of Irish roots, which was a problematic thing for him growing up.

The boxing star was often teased and made fun of for his unique looks, and when he used to sell ice cream in Guadalajara, he’d reveal feeling ’embarrassed’ when he approached people traveling on public transport to buy his stuff. “My dad wanted me to sell ice-creams on the buses. I was quiet, but it wasn’t necessarily a sense of being timid when I got on to the buses,” he said a few years ago. 

Canelo added, “It was more a real embarrassment. I could see how they looked at me and what they said because I was different to them. I was a redhead. They would also pinch me when I came to them and tried to walk past. There was always this sense of feeling something was off in my life.”

Well, things turned out just fine for Canelo Alvarez, who’s perhaps the biggest draw in boxing right now. But besides being good at boxing, he’s also bilingual. Let’s take a look at that front.

Which languages does ‘Saul’ Alvarez speak?

For the majority of his career, Canelo has been very professional and quiet during his press conferences and build-up to each fight. He would always speak in Spanish and have a translator alongside him during his press conferences; the Mexican hardly spoke any English. However, a lot has changed recently.

The undisputed super middleweight champion started showing a different side to his fans. Recently, Canelo started speaking in English, cracking jokes, and having fun with the media. Fans are loving this new side of Canelo as they get to see his true personality. He seems more confident with the media, all thanks to his advances in learning the English language.

That said, Canelo Alvarez might look like an Irishman, but still, he is a Mexican through and through. Although, as even Canelo claims, there could be some Irish in him because of his ancestors. Do you think Canelo could pass for an Irishman?