It feels like a lifetime ago. Back before Saul "Canelo" Alvarez was the undisputed face of boxing, he was a 23-year-old phenom with red hair and a lot of hype. People were genuinely asking if this kid from Mexico could be the one to finally crack the code. So, when did Canelo fight Mayweather?
The date was September 14, 2013.
It was Mexican Independence Day weekend, which is basically the Super Bowl of boxing for fans in the West. The MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas was packed. Celebrities were everywhere. Honestly, the atmosphere was electric, even through the TV screen. But while the hype suggested a changing of the guard, the reality inside the ring was a brutal lesson in the sweet science.
The Night "The One" Happened
The event was officially billed as "The One." At the time, Floyd Mayweather Jr. was 36 years old and sitting pretty with a 44-0 record. Canelo was 42-0-1. It was the master vs. the apprentice.
Kinda funny looking back, but Canelo actually walked into that ring as a world champion himself. He held the WBC and The Ring light middleweight titles. But none of those belts mattered once the bell rang. Mayweather didn't just win; he put on a clinic.
The Catchweight Controversy
One detail people often forget—or argue about till they're blue in the face—is the weight. The fight was contested at a 152-pound catchweight.
Canelo usually fought at 154. Two pounds doesn't sound like much, right? Tell that to a professional athlete who has to starve themselves to make weight. While Mayweather was a natural welterweight (147 lbs) moving up, Canelo was a big kid even then. On fight night, after rehydrating, Canelo reportedly weighed 165 pounds. Floyd? He was only 150.
Despite being 15 pounds heavier, Canelo looked like he was underwater. He was slow. Flat-footed. Basically, he was a target.
What Really Happened in the Ring?
If you watch the tape now, it’s almost uncomfortable. Mayweather’s jab was like a sniper rifle. He landed 232 punches to Canelo’s 117. That’s nearly double.
Floyd spent most of the night making Canelo miss and then tapping him with a counter-right before spinning out of harm's way. By the sixth round, the frustration on Canelo’s face was obvious. He was trying to land a haymaker, but he was swinging at a ghost.
- Mayweather's Accuracy: 46%
- Canelo's Accuracy: 22%
You’ve gotta give it to Canelo, though. He didn't quit. He kept pressing, kept trying to find a solution, but as he said after the fight: "There was no solution for him."
The Scorecard That Shocked Everyone
Even though everyone watching knew Floyd won almost every round, the official result was a majority decision.
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Wait, what?
Yeah. Two judges got it right: Dave Moretti (116-112) and Craig Metcalfe (117-111). But judge C.J. Ross turned in a scorecard of 114-114. A draw. The boxing world went nuclear. It was one of the most widely criticized scorecards in the history of the sport, and Ross actually retired shortly after the backlash.
Honestly, it didn't matter. The right man got his hand raised.
Why This Fight Still Matters in 2026
You might wonder why we're still talking about a fight from 2013. It’s because it created the Canelo we see today.
Most young stars get destroyed by a loss like that. Their confidence breaks. Instead, Canelo used it as a PhD program in boxing. If you look at how Canelo fights now—the way he uses head movement, the way he traps opponents on the ropes—he’s basically using the same tricks Floyd used on him.
It was the first and only time Canelo has truly been outclassed. He’s since gone on to win titles in four different weight classes, but that September night in Vegas remains the most important pivot point of his career.
Key Takeaways for Boxing Fans
- Timing is everything: Canelo was "green." He had the skills, but not the experience to handle a defensive genius like Mayweather at that age.
- Style matchups: A counter-puncher (Canelo) often struggles against a superior, faster counter-puncher (Mayweather).
- The Legacy: Mayweather retired 50-0. Canelo became the biggest draw in the sport. Both won in the long run.
If you’re looking to watch the fight now, it’s a masterclass in "hit and don't get hit." You can find the highlights on YouTube, but watching the full 12 rounds is the only way to truly appreciate how Mayweather dismantled a future legend.
Next time you're debating who the greatest of this generation is, remember that for one night in September 2013, the answer was crystal clear.
Actionable Insight: If you're a student of the game, go back and watch rounds 7 through 10 of this fight. Pay close attention to Mayweather's lead right hand and how he uses his lead shoulder to deflect Canelo's power shots. It’s a literal textbook on defensive positioning.