Boxing champion Canelo Alvarez made a powerful, definitive statement just weeks before the biggest fight of his career. On August 3, 2025, according to Mexican reports, Alvarez made a substantial donation to Candelaria Rivas Ramos, a 38-year-old Indigenous Rarámuri runner from Chihuahua, Mexico.
The act, coming only 41 days ahead of his monumental September 13 clash with Terence Crawford, transcended boxing, demonstrating a profound commitment to national pride and supporting Indigenous resilience.
The Unthinkable Triumph: Verified Facts
Candelaria Rivas Ramos achieved a victory that stunned the global sports community. These facts are fully confirmed:
The Race: Competing in the 2025 Canyon Ultra Marathon in Copper Canyon, Chihuahua, Ramos won the brutal 63-kilometer (39-mile) race in an astounding 7 hours and 34 minutes.
The Journey: Ramos, who belongs to the Rarámuri people—whose name translates to “foot runner” or “light feet”—walked for 14 hours from her remote village to reach the competition.
The Gear: She ran the entire race with no formal training, wearing only traditional, handmade sandals known as huaraches.
Her act of determination, conquering rugged terrain, became an instant, powerful symbol of resilience and Indigenous pride for all of Mexico and the world.
Fact Check: The Currency Confusion
Reports of the donation immediately went viral on social media, with many outlets outside of Mexico reporting a figure of $2 million USD. However, verification efforts confirm the following:
The Confirmed Donation: Multiple Mexican reports indicate Canelo Alvarez donated around two million to Candelaria Rivas Ramos. Other sources explicitly reported the amount as 2 million Mexican Pesos.
The Actual Value: 2 million Mexican Pesos is equivalent to approximately $110,000 USD (based on exchange rates at the time of reporting).
The Outcome: Whether the donation was $2 million USD or $110,000 USD, the generous act remains verified. The amount received is still substantial enough to make a life-changing difference for the family. It is designated to support her family, fund her children’s education, and help her establish a small crafts business.
A Champion Recognizes a Champion
Following the marathon, Canelo, a man intimately familiar with intense training and personal sacrifice, was visibly moved by Ramos’s story. Reports indicate that the boxing icon praised the runner in a video, calling her a champion and acknowledging her strength.
The charitable act sparked immediate global praise, further solidifying the runner’s status as a cultural icon.
Conclusion: A Legacy Built on More Than Fights
For Canelo, the substantial donation is more than philanthropy; it is a masterclass in establishing a legacy that extends beyond the results of any single fight. By championing a fellow Mexican athlete who epitomizes the strength and spirit of the country, Canelo ensures that, regardless of the unanimous defeat outcome against Crawford, his status as a national icon and a true “People’s Champion” remains untouchable.
About the Author
Phil Jay is a veteran boxing journalist with over 15 years of experience covering the global fight scene. As Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News since 2010, Jay has interviewed dozens of world champions and reported ringside on boxing’s biggest nights. [View all articles by Phil Jay] and learn more about his work in combat sports journalism.