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The Irish might be able to partially claim Canelo Alvarez as one of their own
I typed this out myself because it has some pretty cool history in it.
From The Ring Magazine:
Those educated in Mexican history look at the red hair, see the freckles and think of the Army unit, a 19th-century battalion that was predominantly Irish. they were known as Los Son Patricos, or Those of St. Patrick. They fought for Mexico in the Mexican-American War from 1844 through 1848.
Many, between 50 and 85, were executed as traitors. Their Mexican comrades also called them Los Colorados for their sunburned faces, freckles, and red hair. The guess is that Alvarez ancestor marched in their ranks.
"There might have been an Irish grandfather somewhere there in my past," said Alvarez, whose mom, Ana Maria, is the only other redhead in a family that includes seven brothers, all boxers.
If not the hair, an Irish ancestry might be in part of the Alvarez name that is not included on billboards or on his boxing license. His full name is Santos Saul Alvararez Barragan. According to one history of the name, Barragan is the Mexican spelling of an old Irish name, Berrigen.
From The Ring Magazine:
Those educated in Mexican history look at the red hair, see the freckles and think of the Army unit, a 19th-century battalion that was predominantly Irish. they were known as Los Son Patricos, or Those of St. Patrick. They fought for Mexico in the Mexican-American War from 1844 through 1848.
Many, between 50 and 85, were executed as traitors. Their Mexican comrades also called them Los Colorados for their sunburned faces, freckles, and red hair. The guess is that Alvarez ancestor marched in their ranks.
"There might have been an Irish grandfather somewhere there in my past," said Alvarez, whose mom, Ana Maria, is the only other redhead in a family that includes seven brothers, all boxers.
If not the hair, an Irish ancestry might be in part of the Alvarez name that is not included on billboards or on his boxing license. His full name is Santos Saul Alvararez Barragan. According to one history of the name, Barragan is the Mexican spelling of an old Irish name, Berrigen.
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