In a bombshell announcement that has sent shockwaves through the boxing world, Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez stunned fans by declaring his retirement from professional boxing following his controversial unanimous decision loss to Terence “Bud” Crawford on September 13, 2025, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The 35-year-old Mexican icon, who lost his WBA, WBC, WBO, IBF, and Ring Magazine super middleweight titles in the fight, made the declaration during an emotional press conference in Guadalajara on October 10, 2025, at 12:00 PM CDT (1:00 AM ICT, October 11). But moments later, Canelo dropped a twist so shocking and unexpected that it left the entire sports world in disbelief: he’s retiring to enter politics and launch a crusade against corruption in boxing, vowing to “expose the shadows that stole my legacy and the sport’s soul.”

The Heartbreaking Loss and Retirement Announcement

Canelo’s defeat to Crawford (116-112, 115-113, 115-113) marked the end of his reign as undisputed super middleweight champion, a fight watched by 70,482 fans and 41 million Netflix viewers. The bout was mired in scandals, including referee Thomas Taylor’s admission of bias, Crawford’s positive doping test, a leaked scorecard favoring Canelo, and accusations of a “man in disguise” manipulating the outcome. Canelo, who claimed he was “forced to lose,” addressed the press with tears in his eyes: “After 20 years, countless battles, and giving my heart to this sport, it’s time to hang up the gloves. The pain of this loss, and the way it happened, has broken me.”

The announcement sent X into meltdown, with #CaneloRetires trending globally and amassing 15 million engagements in hours. Fans mourned the end of an era, with one posting, “Canelo retiring? Boxing won’t be the same #LegendLeaves.” Others speculated health issues or the toll of scandals, but no one anticipated the twist that followed.

The Shocking Reveal: Politics and a Crusade Against Corruption

Just moments after his retirement declaration, Canelo paused, wiped his tears, and delivered the bombshell: “But this isn’t the end—it’s a new fight. I’m retiring to enter politics in Mexico and expose the corruption that plagues boxing. The real purpose is to clean the sport I love, starting with those who rigged my fight for their agendas.” He revealed plans to run for a congressional seat in Jalisco, his home state, focusing on sports integrity, youth programs, and anti-corruption initiatives. “They stole my titles with bias, doping, and bribes,” Canelo said, referencing Taylor’s confession, Crawford’s test, and Pacquiao’s allegations. “Now, I’ll use my voice to protect future champions.”

The reveal left the room in stunned silence, followed by a roar of applause. X exploded anew, with #CaneloPolitics trending and fans reacting in disbelief: “Canelo retiring to politics? Mind blown #MexicanHero.” Another wrote, “From ring king to political powerhouse? This is wild #Canelo2026.”

Reactions from the Boxing World

The boxing community was floored. Manny Pacquiao, a fellow legend turned politician, tweeted, “Proud of you, brother. Fight corruption like you fought in the ring #PacquiaoTruth.” Terence Crawford, amid his own doping scandal, responded on X: “Retirement? Good riddance. Politics suits crybabies #BudTheGOAT.” Promoter Eddie Hearn called it “a bold move,” saying on ESPN, “Canelo’s exposing the dark side. This could change boxing forever.”

Fans and analysts debated the implications. “Canelo’s retirement is a protest against the system,” said Boxing News editor Matt Christie. “His political run could spotlight Saudi influence and doping.” Others saw it as a PR masterstroke, with #CaneloPresidente gaining traction in Mexico.

The Scandals That Pushed Canelo to the Edge

Canelo’s decision comes amid a cascade of revelations: Taylor’s bias admission, a leaked AI scorecard favoring Canelo (118-110), Crawford’s doping positive, and Pacquiao’s “man in disguise” theory. Canelo’s earlier 14-word retort to fixing accusations—”I never fixed a fight! They stole my belts with lies and corruption!”—foreshadowed his crusade. The Nevada Athletic Commission’s October 15 hearing could annul the fight, potentially allowing Canelo to unretire, but he insisted, “My fight is now bigger than the ring.”

A New Chapter for Canelo

At 35, with a 63-3-2 record and 39 KOs, Canelo leaves as one of boxing’s all-time greats, with a net worth exceeding $200 million from endorsements like Under Armour. His political ambitions, inspired by Pacquiao’s Philippine Senate run, focus on reforming sports governance in Mexico. “I’ll risk everything for justice,” he said, echoing his threat to Colbert in a prior clash.

The sports world is in disbelief: is this retirement permanent, or a strategic pause? With X ablaze and Mexico rallying, Canelo’s twist promises to reshape his legacy from ring warrior to political force. Stay tuned for updates as this shocking saga unfolds.