Is Canelo Alvarez overrated?

By Boxing News - 02/04/2016 - Comments

canelo5666By AK: Ever since the Amir Khan and WBC middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez fight got announced this week for May 7 on HBO pay-per-view, the majority of boxing fans on this website have been calling this fight a mismatch. Canelo Alvarez is a really good fighter, has a good resume, solid chin, always going forward, and is willing to fight anyone, but the way people are taking about him is as though he is some kind of killer in the ring and cannot get beat.

Canelo is a good fighter but he is built up a lot by golden boy promotions due to him being the only fighter they have that is PPV worthy. Canelo has a record of 46-1-1-32 KO’s, which is really impressive especially for a 25 year old. But if you look at some of the fights you realize he has been gifted a few decisions. Canelo v Austin Trout was a really close fight and I had Trout winning by one point or a draw at best. But the judges that night had Canelo winning by a wide decision.

Canelo v Erislandy Lara was also a fight in which I had Canelo losing by a wide decision. But Canelo ended up winning a split decision. Canelo’s recant fight against Miguel Cotto had him winning by a wide decision of 117-111, 119-109, 118-110. To me the fight was really close and the best I had, Canelo winning by a point. A draw would have not been far-fetched.

We also have the Floyd Mayweather fight were Canelo lost, and was humiliated throughout the whole fight. Floyd Mayweather made Canelo look like an amateur boxer that night, and I don’t think one person in the world did not have Floyd Mayweather winning by a wide decision, apart from one of the judges that night who scored the fight 114-114. When the scoreboard was announced even Canelo was surprised, later saying it ‘no no it was not a draw’.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4sSi1wOcnQ

All these fighters mentioned above have one thing in common, and that is that they are all good technical boxers, who use a lot of movement. Canelo is not as decisive against technical boxers compared to boxers that come in a straight line like Alfredo Angulo, and James Kirkland were he looked amazing in both fights.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nkNE9SK7To

Canelo’s next fight is against Amir Khan, and people shouldn’t be surprised if Amir Khan wins. Amir Khan has better movement and speed then anyone Canelo has ever faced. In that fight I expect Amir Khan to win by a wide decision.

To conclude I don’t think Canelo is overrated but he struggles with a certain style and game plan. Even with a loss to Amir Khan, Canelo will continue to be in great fights.



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