Canelo Bets $500,000 on Usyk via 1win and Sparks Controversy
Mexican boxing icon Saul "Canelo" Álvarez stirred up headlines again — but this time, it wasn't for anything he did in the ring. On July 14, Canelo posted a screenshot on X (formerly Twitter), revealing a $500,000 bet he placed on Oleksandr Usyk to win his upcoming fight against Daniel Dubois, scheduled for July 19.
The bet was made through 1win, a sportsbook Canelo officially endorses. The odds for Usyk's victory were 1.26, which would bring Canelo a payout of $630,000 — a $130,000 profit if Usyk wins as expected.
In his post, Canelo explained why he's backing the Ukrainian champion:
"Over the past five years, Usyk has beaten the best. He's got incredible endurance, skill, and ring IQ."
Backlash Over Gambling Promotion
Canelo's post included a promo video for 1win, clearly part of a sponsorship deal. However, not everyone in the boxing world was thrilled about it.Former champion Anthony Fowler responded harshly:
"Don't encourage gambling, Canelo. It ruins lives."
The fanbase was also divided. Some supported Canelo's right to place and share a personal bet, while others criticised the ethics of a global sports icon promoting a betting site so openly — especially to millions of followers.
Meanwhile, Usyk hasn't commented on the bet, staying focused on his upcoming match.
Mark Patterson is the news writer at CasinosInCanada who covers the latest developments in the iGaming industry, including casino launches, regulations, and market updates.
1win is a sketchy one. Canelo could’ve picked something more solid — this just sounds like another scam.
As if Fowler’s some kind of saint. He used to promote betting sites too. Double standards much.
Half a mil on Usyk makes sense. But the sportsbook promo part - that’s lame.
Nothing wrong here. He’s not pushing loot boxes on kids - just showing who he’s betting on. It’s your choice whether to follow or not.
It’s boring being a millionaire, so they start pouring money into bets...
It’s boring being a millionaire, so they start pouring money into bets...