Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has attributed his defeat to Terence Crawford last September to a mental lapse rather than physical unpreparedness. The former undisputed super middleweight champion revealed he lost focus on fight night, impacting his future fight options.
Reflecting on the loss, Alvarez explained that his failure in the ring stemmed from his mindset despite completing an effective training camp. He noted that he strayed from basic tactical principles during the bout, allowing Crawford to control the contest through disciplined boxing, superior speed, and clinching whenever distance was closed.
Speaking to CBS Mornings, Alvarez addressed the defeat and the lessons taken from the ring. He said: ““You cannot control the results,”” He added: ““Even when you do everything good, things don’t go your way. I learned that. Sometimes we forget the bases, and I forgot the bases in that fight,”” He further noted: ““Mentally, I was not there. I did everything correct in the training camp, but mentally I was not there. I learned that. If I’m going to still fighting, I need to be there mentally and physically.””
Alvarez did not point to injuries, problems during camp, or controversial judging. Instead, he framed the loss as a self-inflicted failure to perform to his expected standard. Crawford executed a clear game plan over twelve rounds, out-punching Alvarez as the Mexican fighter faded after the sixth round.
While Alvarez wants a lucrative rematch, his immediate focus must shift to defender duties in the division. He faces WBC super middleweight champion Christian Mbilli on October 31.
Victory against Mbilli remains a strict requirement for any second fight with Crawford to be viable. Even with a win, promoter Turki Alalshikh may decline to fund a rematch following the lukewarm reception to their initial meeting. For now, Alvarez must prove he can regain his mental focus before any higher-profile bouts materialize.
