“Directing the legend himself Canelo Álvarez in Creed III. Can't wait for the world to see it on March 3. A star inside the ring and out. Welcome to the family!”, post the actor and producer Michael B. Jordan, on Instagram referring to the Mexican professional boxer Saúl Canelo Álvarez.

This is how Michael B. Jordan confirmed that the Latin athlete has been cast in Creed III, a spin-off of the Rocky Balboa saga, a character played by the renowned American actor of Italian origin Sylvester Stallone.

The role of Saúl Canelo Álvarez in his acting debut is still to be confirmed. Alongside the professional boxer, the cast of Creed III includes Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad and Wood Harris.

Michael B. Jordan also stars in the film as Adonis "Donnie" Creed; and at the same time serves as producer and director of the film. The script for this ninth film in the Rocky franchise has been written by Keenan Coogler and Zach Baylin.

The Creed saga was released for the first time in 2015, while the second film hit theaters in 2018. The production tells the story of "Donnie" Creed, son of Apollo Creed. 

Creed III, the first spin-off production to hit screens without Stallone, is set to premiere on March 3, 2023.

WHO IS SAUL CANELO ALVAREZ?

Saúl Álvarez was born in 1990 in Guadalajara. He suffered bullying when he was just a kid because of his light skin and freckles. His other friends called him "El Canelo"; a pseudonym that is still associated with his name today.

As a child he worked with his father selling popsicles; but at the age of 10, a gift from his brother would change his life forever: his first boxing gloves. He made his professional debut at the age of 15 and his family supported him in his decision to leave his studies to pursue his passion.

At 76 kilos and 1.73 meters tall, the Mexican is the current world champion of the WBA (Super), WBC, WBO, IBF and The Ring super middleweight.

His role in Creed movie marks his acting debut; although this is not the first time that a professional boxer appears in a production of the Rocky franchise. Before Saúl Canelo Álvarez, Argentine Pedro Lovell and Puerto Rican Gabriel Rosado had already appeared in the first Rocky and Creed I movies, respectively.