Mexican boxing icon Saúl "Canelo" Álvarez has long expressed a deep connection to his homeland and made it clear that he wants his dream farewell fight to take place in Mexico, but not at the famed Estadio Azteca.
"My comments were taken out of context; I never said that’s where my final fight would be," Álvarez clarified to reporters Wednesday. "If and when I retire, my wish is to have my last fight in Guadalajara, the city where I was born and where my boxing journey first began."
Álvarez (63-3-2, 39 KOs) last fought in his hometown at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara in 2023, where he defeated John Ryder via unanimous decision. The event was a homecoming celebration and Álvarez's first fight in Mexico since 2011.
Despite his preference for Guadalajara
as the site of his farewell fight, Álvarez emphasized his continued interest in fighting at Estadio Azteca at some point in his career. He said he has already discussed with Emilio Azcárraga, chairman of Televisa and owner of Club América, the possibility of staging a major event at the iconic venue.
"It’s absolutely realistic to host a major bout at Azteca," Álvarez said. "Although it wouldn’t be my retirement fight, I can definitely envision stepping into the ring there. The stadium has an incredible history and energy that would make for an unforgettable night."
Álvarez also shared his experience attending the 2026 World Cup at Estadio Azteca, describing the electric atmosphere and the sense of national pride he felt among the crowd and expressed that it would be an honor to fight at such an iconic venue.
Álvarez is preparing for his highly anticipated return to the ring after more than a year away, following his unanimous-decision loss to Terence Crawford in September 2025.
On Oct. 31 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he will headline the blockbuster event "Mexico vs. The World" as he looks to reclaim the WBC super middleweight championship against the undefeated Christian Mbilli (29-0-1, 24 KOs).
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Canelo reveals where he wants his retirement fight, and it's not Estadio Azteca
