Guadalajara, Mexico – At 5:43 p.m. local time, boxing legend Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez died at the scene after a horrific car accident on the Periférico Sur highway, just over 10 kilometers from the center of Guadalajara.
The bright red Ferrari SF90 Stradale, worth more than $1.4 million, lost control at nearly 190 km/h, crashed straight into the median strip, flipped several times, and burst into flames, burning the entire body of the car in less than 2 minutes.
A witness, Mario Gallardo, a taxi driver who witnessed the entire incident, told the press in a trembling state:
“I heard a roar, then the Ferrari rushed past like a bolt of lightning. A split second later, there was only fire – a real fireball. No one could get close. The red flames engulfed everything.”
A dashcam clip from a car behind shows the Ferrari losing control, skidding across the road like a blood trail, crashing violently and then bursting into flames. The heat from the flames forced many surrounding cars to back up more than 20 meters.
Canelo had just finished a charity event to raise money for children with cancer, leaving the Hilton Centro hotel at 17:10, according to the management team.
He was alone, driving the Ferrari he had just received from Italy two weeks ago – a gift he gave himself after his recent victory over Jaime Munguía.
According to traffic cameras, just five minutes before the accident, Canelo’s Ferrari had passed four cars at a speed of over 180 km/h.
Guadalajara police chief Fernando Díaz confirmed:
“There were no signs of sudden braking, just a very strong loss of control, possibly due to skidding or sudden steering.”
Firefighters and paramedics arrived seven minutes later. However, the fire had already consumed the entire cockpit.
A rescue worker said:
“We could only see the chassis, the entire front had collapsed. There was an unmistakable burning smell.”
Canelo’s body was found stuck in the cabin, his seatbelt still attached to the driver’s seat. A forensic doctor at the scene determined that he had died immediately after the collision, due to severe head trauma combined with fourth-degree burns.
Although the body was transferred to Guadalajara General Hospital, hundreds of fans and paparazzi followed the ambulance convoy, causing a serious traffic jam of more than 3km.
Some fans climbed onto the roof of the car, crying when they heard that Canelo had died.
A woman wearing a “Team Canelo” shirt fainted on the spot. Police were forced to set up a barricade around the hospital.
Canelo’s wife, Fernanda Gómez, showed up at the hospital just 40 minutes after receiving the news. She entered the autopsy room without saying a word, her eyes red and her hands shaking.
Canelo’s family, including his parents and siblings, were present within two hours.
They were allowed to see the body only after DNA testing confirmed the victim was Saúl Álvarez.
Less than an hour after the incident, the entire sports community exploded on social media:
Mike Tyson: “Canelo is a true warrior. An icon has fallen. Rest in Power.”
Floyd Mayweather posted a photo of them together with the caption: “Respect. Always.”
Mexico’s president declared a day of national mourning in the state of Jalisco.
#GoodbyeCanelo became the #1 hashtag worldwide in 12 minutes.
#PrayForMexico followed just four minutes later.
Thousands of fans gathered at Arena México, where Canelo fought his first 14 times in his career.
A sea of white candles and red flowers covered the boxing ring. One person shouted:
“You taught us to fight, to never give up. But today, we lost you forever.”
A national funeral was being prepared. The coffin was draped in the Mexican flag, with Canelo’s portrait hanging high among a wreath of white flowers.
A final promise from relatives:
“We will create the Canelo Álvarez Foundation for homeless children – just like he dreamed.”
Mexico lost more than just a boxer. The world lost an icon.
