By Sean Jones: Canelo Alvarez says he views taking risks as better than having regrets as he goes into his November 6th undisputed 168-lb championship fight against IBF champion Caleb Plant.
Unfortunately, Canelo isn’t practicing what he preaches by choosing to be avoidant in swerving David Benavidez, Artur Beterbiev, and Dmitry Bivol, to name just a few.
“Risk is better than regret,” said Canelo on Instagram.
While it may seem like Canelo (56-1-2, 38 KOs) is doing something admirable by taking a risk against Plant (21-0, 12 KOs), you must realize that this is a lesser risk for him than if he were to take on a talented fighter.
Crazy risks for Canelo
- David Benavidez
- Jermall Charlo
- Dmitry Bivol
- Artur Beterbiev
- Demetrius Andrade
- Joe Smith Jr
Canelo, 31, is being an opportunist by fighting a weak belt-holder in Plant compared to the arguably more talented Jermall, Beterbiev, Bivol, Demetrius Andrade, or Joe Smith Jr.
Plant is what would call a calculated risk for Canelo rather than a crazy risk. Fighting Beterbiev or Bivol would be a crazy risk because Canelo’s chances of winning would be less than 50-50.
Facing Plant, a fighter whose best win was an unimpressive 12 round decision over Jose Uzcategui, is a calculated risk and another example of Canelo being an opportunist.
Bogus risks for Canelo
- Caleb Plant
- Billy Joe Saunders
- Callum Smith
- Rocky Fielding
- Sergey Kovalev
- Daniel Jacobs
- Avni Yildirim
Stephen A. Smith: Canelo can’t be beaten
“Caleb Plant is an exceptional boxer. Canelo is the best in the world,” said Stephen A. Smith of ESPN to ESNEWS. “He’s the #1 fighter in the world right now, and I would be very, very careful if I were anybody to get in front of Canelo Alvarez.
“And he’s a bodysnatcher, he’s an exceptional counter puncher, and he can take a punch and certainly give it with either hand.
“He’s incredibly gifted and ferocious, and he’s moved up from the welterweight to the light heavyweight division. He’s taking on all comers.
“Even in the second fight against GGG, which he won. I remember GGG calling him out after the first fight, questioning his Mexican heritage and what are you bringing to the table.
“Canelo walked right to him and said, ‘Let’s go’ all fight long, and that really stood out with me. We saw him knock out Kovalev and take out others.
“I want to see him fight [David] Benavidez because I’m a Benavidez fan as well, but right now, Canelo Alvarez is the best in the world.
“Unless you are a knockout artist, I don’t see you beating Canelo Alvarez, and I don’t find Caleb Plant to be that guy,” said Smith.
As you can tell, Stephen A. Smith is a HUGE fan of Canelo, but he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
With all the praise that Smith is giving Canelo, you would think he would have actually proven himself by beating Beterbiev, Benavidez, Bivol, and Smith Jr. Canelo hasn’t because he won’t fight them.
It looks like Smith wasn’t aware that Sergey Kovalev was totally shot as a fighter by the time Canelo, the opportunist, fought him.
Plant can become mega-star by beating Canelo
“I hope so, but Canelo is the best fighter in the world right now,” said Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero to Fighthype when asked if Caleb Plant can pull off the upset against Alvarez.
“It would speak massive about what Caleb Plant is if he’s able to beat Canelo. I would be extremely impressed. I’m already impressed with Caleb, but that would turn him into a mega-star.
“Of course, f***, yeah,” said Rolly when asked if Plant will do better than Canelo’s last three opponents Billy Joe Saunders, Avni Yildirim, and Callum Smith.
“But Caleb is actually going to try and win. Billy Joe Saunders didn’t try and win, and then he fought. Exactly, no one even remembers,” said Rolly when he needed to be told the name of Canelo’s opponent before the Saunders fight, which was Avni Yildirim.
“I think Caleb is actually going to try and win. If it goes to decision, it’s going to go to Canelo.
Caleb, I don’t think he has the power to stop Canelo, so he’s going to have to outbox him, and then you’re fighting a decision. Do you know what I mean? Canelo is the face of boxing.
“A stiff jab,” said Rolly about what Plant can do to try and get Canelo’s respect and win. “Look at Floyd. Floyd punches harder than people think, though.
“But with just those stiff punches right there, it keeps everybody off of him, just like Rigo [Guillermo Rigondeaux] keeps everybody off him. That’s why nobody wants to throw punches at him. Every punch Rigo throws hurts,” said Rolly.
Plant will definitely be transformed into a mega-star if he beats Canelo, especially if he knocks him out.