Canelo Alvarez Wins 2023 WBC Best Fighter Award

Canelo Alvarez has been named as the ‘Best Boxer of the Year’ at the 61st World Boxing Convention.

The news arrives as Canelo finishes the year as undisputed champion at super middleweight. The Mexican’s unanimous-decision win over Jermell Charlo capped off a year with two wins, including Alvarez’s fight over John Ryder in his home country. The victories also kept Alvarez in line for a mega Mexican clash against David Benavidez, who is the current WBC interim champion at 168. 

The award is the fifth time that the fighter has received it, which was marked by a special commemorative belt presented by Julio César Chávez in addition to the award. While Canelo was not able to attend, there is no denying that Alvarez has had a remarkable year. The win over Charlo was the Mexican’s 60th win.

Grand Inauguration of WBC Convention in Uzbekistan 🇺🇿🇺🇿🇺🇿 #WBCUzbekistan23https://t.co/xGsSMAxz0e pic.twitter.com/7UHwq7MNKG

— World Boxing Council (@WBCBoxing) November 13, 2023

And yet, there were other contenders who could have equally gotten that award. Terence Crawford became the first undisputed welterweight champion of the four belt era by stopping Errol Spence Jr. in the ninth round. And that victory made Crawford the first male boxer to become undisputed in a second weight class.

In addition, Teofimo Lopez became a two-weight and two-time lineal champion after beating Josh Taylor to secure the WBO belt at 140. The latter was the former undisputed junior welterweight champion, who suffered his first defeat, showing the magnitude of the achievement. With that being said, there was a mixed response towards Canelo’s award.