With Canelo Alvarez’s highly anticipated bout against Edgar Berlanga just around the corner, the last thing anyone wants is for him to suffer an injury. Sports medicine expert Dr. Brian Sutterer shares this concern. While Canelo Alvarez is rigorously preparing for his fight at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, he might be pushing himself a little too hard in training.

Recently, several clips of ‘Cinnamon’ performing his intense neck-strengthening exercise using his full body weight—around 168 pounds—went viral on the internet. One of the videos quickly caught the attention of the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation expert, Dr. Sutterer, who issued a warning to Canelo about the potential risks involved.

Sharing Canelo’s clip, Boxing Kingdom wrote, “Canelo Alvarez strengthening the neck with his entire body weight.” It’s important to note that exercises like these are not uncommon among boxers, as they train the muscles to help build a strong neck, which can absorb strong blows and reduce the risk of whiplash during fights.

Regardless, Dr. Sutterer immediately urged, “Don’t do this,” adding “The cervical spine is not built to tolerate high compressive loads like this.” Instead of Canelo’s technique, the doctor advised him to take the load off of the head. He wrote, “If you want to strengthen your neck, do it without putting load through the top of your head.”

While it’s unlikely that the doctor had any ill intentions with his advice for Canelo, a controversial social media influencer seems to have taken offense to what they thought was unwarranted advice.

Not long after the doctor shared his thoughts on Canelo’s neck-strengthening exercise, Andrew Tate, the man who figured out the matrix, quickly jumped in to correct the doctor. Tate, a former mixed martial artist, responded to Dr. Stutterer’s post, writing, “Bet he could beat the f**k out of you [though]. So who’s really healthier?”

Despite the highly confrontational response from Cobra Tate, the doctor mostly remained unaffected by Tate’s attempt to create some drama. Moments later, Dr. Sutterer wrote back, answering Tate’s question. “Definitely him. Going through some heart problems myself and can’t do intense exercise atm, but thanks for asking,” he wrote.

That said, Canelo Alvarez has been doing such exercises throughout his career. There are numerous clips of him showcasing the exercises he does to strengthen his neck—this one was rather tame. However, that’s not to say these exercises are safe and a beginner should start doing them. There are several risks involved. What did you think of Canelo’s neck-strengthening exercise? 

Why Neck Strength is Crucial in Boxing

Most elite wrestlers have been strengthening their necks for years. Following their lead, some of the boxers of the past also incorporated neck exercises into their training routines. However, it wasn’t until the camera zoomed in on Mike Tyson‘s tree trunk-sized neck that fans and pundits began to truly appreciate the importance of this training. Since then, neck exercises have become a staple for boxers. Now a video of Canelo Alvarez fortifying his neck on a bosu ball has been going viral.

The super middleweight champion has over the years earned a fearsome reputation for having one of the strongest chins in boxing. It was fairly well known that the hard worker that he is, Alvarez, used to allocate specific time for focusing on body conditioning. Thus, seeing their icon actively working to prolong his career had many fans join in for an exciting discussion.

Boxing Kingdom had shared the ten-second-long footage. The post read, “Canelo Alvarez is strengthening the neck with his entire body weight.” In the clip, the former undisputed champion rests his head on the bosu ball. His back facing upward and his hands held back in a lock. Alvarez’s feet are planted on the ground.

So, putting the weight on the neck, the champion moves his upper body back and forth, thereby bolstering stability. Fans can easily sift through old pages that displayed ‘Iron’ Mike’s photos. His neck muscles were so thick that they seemed to blend into his jawline.

Why should an athlete, especially those from combat disciplines, spend time increasing neck resilience? The answer is simple. By strengthening the neck, a boxer reduces the impact of the whiplash that sets forth upon receiving a face punch. So when the boxer controls the jerk movement, i.e., the head is able to absorb the heavy impact, they can further continue with the fight.

Canelo’s Neck Training: A Debate Among Fans

Alvarez’s training videos are already a big hit among fans. So it’s quite understandable that so many fans would be awestruck watching their icon perform one of the toughest and most complicated exercises. Let’s check what a few of them had to say.

Deeply impressed, this fan thought it better to bestow Canelo Alvarez a recognition bestowed on very few boxers in history. “Best chin in boxing maybe in history,” they said. Echoing similar sentiments, the next fan too highlighted—forget about pummeling him; some of the hardest-hitting punchers couldn’t even drop Alvarez. They said, “It must work because Canelo has a chin of granite. He has fought many massive punchers like GGG, James Kirkland, and Kovalev. Yet he’s never been down or even appeared seriously hurt. He was a born fighter.”

The next user mentioned that the exercises were standard for all the wrestlers. It was one of the best methods to develop neck endurance: “Wrestlers do this their whole life. Best way to train your neck to take blows.” Adding some food for thought, this follower opened the pages of history. Aside from Mike Tyson, they shared that many years earlier, Sonny Liston also used to practice it. Jack Johnson might deserve the credit for popularizing it. Nevertheless, he may not have been the one to pioneer neck strengthening, the follower claimed.

This is what the follower said: “Liston did this… then Mike Tyson… but they weren’t the first. It was actually Jack Johnson who first made this famous… and I believe he wasn’t the first either.” Then, for anyone looking for answers to the puzzle of why Canelo Alvarez has yet to be knocked out, the next fan urged them to follow the video closely. “Ever wonder why he’s never been done professionally? There’s your answer. Very strong neck,” they said.

Those planning to incorporate the exercise into their regimen should remember that it is not the only step to strengthen the neck muscles. There are several others. Hence, in order to make the regimen comprehensive and enjoyable, they should try to mix and match other moves as well.

Canelo’s Dedication to Training: A Legacy in the Making

Canelo Alvarez is not the kind of fighter who leaves anything to chance. For the Mexican, discipline is a way of life, and every day is a new opportunity to push his strength and skill to new heights. He knows exactly how to take his body to the edge and master the benefits of each intense workout.

This time, he blew his followers' minds when a viral video showed him lifting his entire body weight using nothing but his neck. But the real jaw-dropper that had viewers on the edge of their seats was watching him effortlessly moving his neck back and forth without straining a single vertebra.

The truth is, neck training is a game-changer for boxers. It’s not just about improving balance in the ring-it's a key defense mechanism. A strong neck can absorb frontal blows, preventing dangerous whiplash that could lead to spinal injuries.

Canelo is more than just disciplined-he's smart. Known for avoiding heavy hits throughout his career, Álvarez's speed and defensive skills have kept him ahead of the competition. Years of intense training have paid off, allowing him to maintain his sharpness, pace, and winning stats. Even though he's no longer a rookie, Canelo's dedication ensures he's still performing at his peak.

Many argue that no Mexican fighter can ever top Julio César Chávez. But Saúl Álvarez has a trajectory that secured his place in history. His career isn't just defined by impressive stats-it's also marked by an unyielding discipline. Unlike Chávez, whose career was remarkable in its own right, Canelo's relentless dedication and rigorous training have propelled him from a promising boxer to a living legend in the eyes of his adoring fans.

Canelo’s Chin: A Testament to His Training?

Safe or not, Alvarez's neck strength is a huge reason why he has never hit the canvas in the paid ranks. He seemingly has a granite chin, combined with an impressive boxing brain. The moment he is in any trouble, the pay-per-view star is able to roll with his opponent's punches before finding his way to the ropes and staying there until he manages to clear his head.

However, the long-term consequences of a career in boxing often don't become apparent until decades later. Time will tell whether Canelo chooses to heed the warning he has recently received.

Canelo Alvarez squares off against Edgar Berlanga next week. The card at the T-Mobile Arena will also feature the fights of Caleb Plant, Stephen Fulton, and Rolando Romero. All three return to the ring after losing their last bouts. Then, after a gap of two years, Danny Garcia will stage a comeback going against Erislandy Lara.