Canelo Alvarez should consider stepping away from boxing while his reputation remains intact, according to Matthew Hatton, the former European champion and world-level contender who faced the Mexican superstar in 2011.
Speaking to the Toe2Toe podcast, Hatton offered his assessment ahead of Canelo's upcoming challenge for the WBC super-middleweight title against Christian Mbilli in Riyadh on Saturday. According to Sky Sports, Hatton believes a loss to Mbilli would carry consequences for how Canelo's career is remembered.
Hatton, the brother of British boxing legend Ricky, reflected on their 2011 encounter, which marked Canelo's first world title fight.
When I agreed to the fight he was being billed as the next big superstar in world boxing. There was a lot of hype surrounding him and the build-up was fantastic.
The former champion acknowledged underestimating Canelo at that stage of his career.
It's easy to underestimate people when they're so young and I think I possibly did that a little bit. His shot selection, his punch-picking, his variety for such a young man was really, really good. His boxing IQ for someone so young was remarkable really.
Examining Canelo's trajectory over the years, Hatton expressed admiration for the scale of his achievements.
When you look at his record, the amount of fights he's had at the very top level, it's absolutely incredible really. He's a modern-day great.
Despite this respect, Hatton made a clear case for retirement.
Personally I would like to see Canelo stop now, he's had such a good career, he's had a fantastic legacy and I think it's a shame when they go on too long.
Canelo is returning to action following his defeat to Terence Crawford. According to CBS Sports, Crawford won by unanimous decision on September 13, 2025, with judges scoring the bout 116–112, 115–113 and 115–113 in his favour, allowing the American to claim the super-middleweight titles. Crawford's victory was historic in its own right: the BBC reported that Crawford became the first male boxer to win undisputed championships in three divisions in the four-belt era after moving up two weight classes to face Canelo.
Hatton acknowledged that Canelo retains sufficient ability to overcome his next opponent.
I do think he's still got enough left to beat Mbilli. I think it's an interesting fight.
However, Hatton expressed concern about the potential consequences of defeat.
I know people say it doesn't tarnish their legacy but for me, slightly, it does. Say he was to lose to Mbilli on the weekend for me it does tarnish that a little bit.
Mbilli arrives as an undefeated challenger with an impressive record. According to Netflix's Tudum, Mbilli's most recent outing was a split-decision draw with Lester Martinez, leaving him with a 29-0-1 record and his interim WBC title at the time.
Hatton reiterated his position on how fighters should manage the twilight of their careers.
We all look at that differently. I would like to see him retire now.
Canelo proceeds with Saudi Arabia fight amid regional concerns
Canelo is moving forward with his Mbilli bout in Saudi Arabia despite escalating security concerns in the region. Houthi attacks have targeted Saudi airports, including Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, while other sporting events in the kingdom have faced postponement or cancellation due to safety worries.
The fighter has expressed his determination to compete regardless of the circumstances.
You know, fighting in Saudi for me is special and whatever it takes I'm going to be a world champion again. Because I'm a fighter and I want to achieve a lot of things in boxing yet and that motivates myself. I love boxing.
What comes next
Canelo is scheduled to challenge Mbilli for the WBC super-middleweight title on October 31, 2026, in Riyadh, with the fight listed for DAZN pay-per-view in the UK.
