The defeat of Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez against Terence Crawford at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas not only stripped him of his world titles but also ignited debate about his future in boxing. In front of more than 70,000 spectators, the Mexican fell decisively, and the criticism has poured in ever since.

Roy Jones Jr. advises the Mexican to retire

Joining the voices questioning the Guadalajara native’s future is none other than Roy Jones Jr., boxing legend and former world champion in the middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight divisions. Through his Instagram account, the American delivered a blunt message: “Better end your career.”

For Jones Jr., the loss to Crawford revealed that Canelo no longer shows the same hunger he once had at his peak. The American warned that if the Mexican decides to step into the ring against David Benavidez, he will need extraordinary ambition to compete. “To beat Benavidez you have to be extremely hungry, pressuring him from round 1 to 12. If you’re not, don’t waste your time,” he stated.

The former champion also believes this is not the right time for Álvarez to pursue a fight of that magnitude, as the mental and sporting blow suffered against Crawford is still too fresh.

Canelo still thinking about the ring

Despite the criticism, Canelo has no plans to step aside just yet. The Mexican still has a contract committing him to two more fights, one of them precisely against Benavidez, which makes Roy Jones Jr.’s warning even more significant.

It’s not the first time Jones Jr. has spoken out about the fighter from Jalisco. In the past, he had pointed out technical flaws in his style, particularly his tendency to “slap” with the left hook. Today, however, his comments focus on the mental side and the lack of motivation that, according to him, could be the deciding factor between continuing to compete or ending a historic career.

The future of Canelo Álvarez hangs in the balance. While he still boasts millions of fans and contracts that oblige him to return to the ring, the question remains: are we witnessing the epilogue of one of the most successful careers in Mexican boxing history?