Canelo's Vegan Diet: Fact Or Fiction?

Mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez's diet has been a topic of discussion among fans and commentators alike. Alvarez adopted a vegan diet ahead of his challenge against Dmitry Bivol, a World Boxing Association (WBA) light heavyweight super champion from Russia. This decision sparked varied responses, with some criticising it and others drawing comparisons to the alleged use of anabolic stimulants by boxers. Alvarez himself reported feeling energetic and strong, with his body adapting well to the diet. However, Joe Rogan, a known critic of veganism, blamed Alvarez's loss to Bivol on his vegan diet.

Canelo Alvarez's vegan diet

In April 2022, Mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez revealed that he had adopted a "mainly vegan" diet in preparation for his challenge against Dmitry Bivol. Alvarez, who was set to fight Bivol on May 7, 2022, in Las Vegas, told Espn Deportes that the vegan diet had brought him many benefits.

Alvarez's Vegan Diet

Alvarez explained that he was not very complicated when it came to food and could adapt quickly. He said that he didn't give up everything at once and still occasionally ate meat. Specifically, he mentioned that he tried to eat vegan all week and would eat meat or chicken if the opportunity arose on other days.

Alvarez also shared that his body was adapting well to the vegan diet, and his stomach felt good. He recommended the diet to others, stating that he felt very good and energetic.

Criticism and Controversy

Alvarez's decision to go vegan caused some controversy among fans, with some criticising the boxer for his dietary choice. Notably, Joe Rogan, known for his disapproval of veganism, blamed Alvarez's vegan diet for his loss to Bivol. Rogan shared an Instagram story criticising Alvarez's choice, commenting, "That worked good."

Alvarez's vegan diet also drew attention because it came four years after he blamed contaminated meat for a failed drug test in 2018. Alvarez had tested positive for the performance-enhancing drug clenbuterol, which has fat-burning properties, just before a scheduled rematch with Gennady Golovkin. PETA Latino advised Alvarez to go vegan after the incident, but it took him four years to make the switch.

Joe Rogan's criticism of the boxer's diet

Joe Rogan, a UFC commentator and podcaster, has been vocal in his criticism of boxer Canelo Alvarez's decision to adopt a vegan diet. In the lead-up to Canelo's highly anticipated fight with Dmitry Bivol, the boxer revealed that he had made a drastic change to his nutrition by going vegan. This sparked a wave of fan speculation, with many predicting that this could impact his performance in the ring.

Rogan, a known critic of veganism and proponent of meat-based diets, shared an Instagram story criticising Canelo's dietary choices. "That worked good," Rogan commented sarcastically, quoting Canelo's own words about his diet. He also shared a post on his Instagram story, stating that Canelo's vegan diet may have cost him the fight against Bivol: "They f*ed with some reality."

During an episode of "The Joe Rogan Experience" with Cameron Hanes, Rogan elaborated on his disagreement with Canelo's diet. He argued that a vegan diet does not provide a significant athletic performance boost, contrary to what some claim:

> "He watched that documentary on Netflix, 'The Game Changers'. If you wanna eat only vegan, and you wanna do it for ethical reasons, and you don't wanna be involved in animal death, I get it. You don't wanna be involved in factory farming; I get it. But it's not true when you say that it gives you a significant athletic performance boost—it doesn't."

Rogan further questioned the validity of the documentary's claims, stating that there is no real proof that a vegan diet enhances athletic performance. He also asserted that there are no elite professional athletes at the highest level who are vegan, and that a vegan diet may not provide the same bioavailability of nutrients.

Rogan's criticism of Canelo's vegan diet is part of a broader pattern of his scepticism towards veganism. He has previously criticised public figures such as Bill Gates for their dietary choices, showcasing his unwavering belief in the superiority of meat-based diets.

Alvarez's loss to Dmitry Bivol

On 7 May 2022, Canelo Alvarez lost to Dmitry Bivol in a light heavyweight fight at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. This was Alvarez's first loss since his 2013 defeat to Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Bivol, who entered the bout as a +400 underdog, dominated the fight, peppering Alvarez with jabs and heavy combinations. The final score was 115-113 for all three judges, giving Bivol a unanimous decision victory.

Alvarez's loss came as a shock to the boxing world, with many commentators and pundits discussing the reasons for his defeat. Joe Rogan, for example, attributed Alvarez's loss to his vegan diet, a decision that the boxer had made in preparation for the fight.

Alvarez's loss to Bivol seemed to affect his drive to chase greatness. After the loss, Alvarez appeared less interested in taking on challenging opponents and more focused on making money before retirement. He did not push for a rematch with Bivol and instead chose to take on fights that he believed would be easier wins.

Alvarez's loss to Bivol marked a turning point in his career, shifting his focus from chasing legacy to prioritising financial gains.

The boxer's food choices

The Boxers Food Choices

Saul "Canelo" Alvarez is a Mexican boxer and former four-division world champion. In the lead-up to his May 2022 fight with Dmitry Bivol, Canelo revealed that he had adopted a vegan diet. He told ESPN Deportes that he felt "very good" and that his body was "adapting very well" to the change. Canelo also noted that he was "not very complicated when it comes to food" and could adapt quickly to new diets. He said that he would "stick to eating vegan all week" but would still eat meat or chicken if the opportunity arose.

Canelo's decision to go vegan was influenced by a few factors. Firstly, a Netflix documentary had encouraged him to try a vegan diet, citing improved performance in elite athletes who removed animal products from their diets. Secondly, in 2018, Canelo had failed a drug test due to contaminated meat and had been advised by PETA Latino to adopt a vegan diet. However, it took him four years to make the switch fully.

While Canelo felt his new diet gave him more energy and strength, his decision caused controversy among fans, with some criticising the move and predicting that he would lose his upcoming fight. Notably, podcaster Joe Rogan, known for his dislike of veganism, blamed Canelo's vegan diet for his loss to Bivol. Rogan shared an Instagram story criticising the boxer's dietary choices.

After his defeat, Canelo resumed his old routines and returned to eating meat, a decision made by many boxers throughout the sport's history. Canelo acknowledged the challenges of changing his diet suddenly and decided to revert to his previous eating habits.

Alvarez's previous non-vegan diet

Saúl "Canelo" Álvarez is a Mexican boxer and former four-division world champion. In the lead-up to his 2022 fight with Dmitry Bivol, Canelo revealed that he had adopted a vegan diet. This was a notable change from his previous diet, which typically included meat and other animal products.

In addition, as a professional athlete, Alvarez likely had a diet that was high in protein and other nutrients to support his training and performance. Before adopting veganism, he may have relied on animal-based sources of protein, such as meat, poultry, and dairy. He also mentioned that he used to eat bread and rice, which are common sources of carbohydrates for athletes.

Alvarez's diet was also likely tailored to his specific energy needs as a boxer. He mentioned that he would not go well-fed into a fight, as feeling full could be a disadvantage. This suggests that his pre-fight meals were carefully planned to provide enough energy without causing sluggishness.

Furthermore, as a boxer who needs to maintain a certain weight, Alvarez's previous non-vegan diet may have included strategies for weight management. Running, for example, is a common practice for boxers to reduce weight and strengthen their physical condition.

Overall, Alvarez's previous non-vegan diet likely consisted of a variety of Mexican dishes and was tailored to meet the specific nutritional and energy needs of a professional boxer. However, after his fight with Bivol, he decided to leave this diet behind and resume eating animal meat.

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