The defeat of Saúl "Canelo" Álvarez against Terence Crawford, in which he lost all his super middleweight belts, has sparked debate in Mexico about who will inherit his boxing legacy. Among the voices joining the conversation is that of Juan Manuel Márquez, a national boxing legend, who believes it’s time to look toward new figures.

Márquez points to possible successors

Nicknamed “Dinamita”, Márquez was blunt in an interview with Izquierdazo: “There’s, for example, a new champion, Chispa Medina. There’s also Rafael ‘Divino’ Espinoza, who I believe has what it takes to be the face of boxing.” According to Márquez, both fighters not only represent the future but have already proven their worth on the international stage.

Christian “Chispa” Medina was crowned WBO bantamweight world champion on September 14, 2025, after defeating Japan’s Yoshiki Takei by technical knockout in the fourth round at the IG Arena in Nagoya. Meanwhile, Rafael “Divino” Espinoza, the WBO featherweight champion, won his title on December 9, 2023, against Cuban Robeisy Ramírez, and has since defended his belt successfully three times, all by technical knockout.

Mexican boxing with a bright future

Juan Manuel Márquez’s statements aim to move beyond the era of Canelo Álvarez, who for over a decade was the undisputed face of Mexican boxing. The emergence of Medina and Espinoza confirms that Mexico continues to produce champions capable of shining on international stages and thrilling fans with their aggressive, offensive style.

Espinoza has solidified his reign with defenses against high-level opponents such as Sergio Chirino Sánchez, Robeisy Ramírez in the rematch, and most recently Edward Vázquez in May 2025. Meanwhile, Medina has begun writing his own story with a championship that promises to be the start of a high-impact career.

For Márquez, both fighters have the potential to become Mexico’s next big sporting and media stars: “El Divino has strong rivals in the featherweight division, and if he moves up to super featherweight, he can grow even further. Chispa already made a huge statement by winning the title in Japan,” he said.

The legacy Canelo leaves behind

Although Canelo Álvarez remains a reference point, the loss to Crawford marked a turning point in his career. At 35, the Guadalajara native is in the final stretch of his career, and fans are beginning to turn their eyes toward new promises.

The transition won’t be easy, but names like Christian Medina and Rafael Espinoza provide reassurance that Mexican boxing will continue to have elite champions and headline fighters on the world’s biggest cards.