Mike Coppinger, ESPN
LAS VEGAS — Canelo Alvarez heard what used to be being mentioned. In all truth, he’s heard all of it upcoming 18 years in professional boxing, 5 of the ones as boxing’s supremacy famous person.
Previously the known pound-for-pound king, Alvarez misplaced that situation when he used to be defeated by means of Dmitry Bivol at 175 kilos in Might 2022, Alvarez’s first loss since 2013 when he used to be routed by means of Floyd Mayweather.
Alvarez returned to cover his undisputed tremendous middleweight championship with a victory over Gennadiy Golovkin to conclude their storied trilogy ultimate September, next defeated John Ryder in Might in Mexico. Nonetheless, the feedback endured from fanatics and media related: Alvarez, at life 33 and upcoming 60 professional fights, wasn’t the similar fighter anymore.
Alvarez effectively proved — with each punishing left hook and overhand proper — over 12 rounds towards Jermell Charlo on Saturday that he’s certainly nonetheless elite, nonetheless the face of boxing and nonetheless an all-time superior.
“Nobody can compete with this Canelo,” mentioned Alvarez, ESPN’s Disagree. 4 pound-for-pound boxer.
Alvarez (60-2-2, 39 KOs) didn’t rating the knockout he so desperately sought after, nevertheless it used to be discoverable that he used to be on the supremacy of his sport. His motion, mixture punching and trademark talent to shorten off the hoop all gave the impression in top mode as he ruled Charlo en path to the 3rd protection of his 4 168-pound titles. Certain, Charlo used to be shifting up two weight categories and had by no means fought in this degree sooner than, however he’s an elite fighter who had defeated each boxer he’s ever confronted.
Alvarez neutralized his offense and made Charlo really feel his energy. Alvarez pressured Charlo to speed a knee in Spherical 7 upcoming he attached on an overhand proper and introduced defiantly that he’s nonetheless the similar fighter who earned all-time superior situation.
“I agree that a couple fights I don’t look the same, but that doesn’t mean other things,” Alvarez informed ESPN on Wednesday. “I feel fresh, I feel young and I feel strong. I feel in my prime, and you will see Saturday.”
Certainly, we did. Alvarez fought Bivol and GGG with a major left wrist shock. He underwent surgical procedure in October and mentioned he wasn’t 100% assured in his top weapon towards Ryder, whom he dropped however didn’t end.
Similar to he did towards Ryder, he used to be in a position to loose Charlo, who additionally heard the overall bell. However this month, Alvarez didn’t really feel disillusioned.
“Charlo is a savvy fighter, someone who can move around the ring…,” Alvarez mentioned. “I’m happy with the work I did. I did my job.”
At this time, the largest query for Alvarez surrounds his pace combatants. He used to be at the start slated to combat Jermell’s dual brother, Jermall, on Saturday, and perhaps that combat can also be revisited when Alvarez returns on Cinco De Mayo weekend. Jermall Charlo is ready to go back upcoming a two-and-a-half-year layoff on Nov. 25 towards Jose Benavidez Jr.
A much more shrewd possibility for Alvarez is Benavidez’s more youthful brother, David Benavidez, the volume-punching former tremendous middleweight titleholder coming off a win over Caleb Plant. Benavidez is scheduled to combat Demetrius Andrade within the Nov. 25 major tournament. “[Benavidez] has demonstrated he’s the best,” Benavidez’s promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz, informed ESPN. “He deserves the opportunity. The sport of boxing deserves to see the best.”
However probably the most shrewd bout of all, in all probability the largest in all of boxing, is a matchup between Alvarez, the face of boxing, and Terence Crawford, the game’s supremacy pound-for-pound fighter, who’s mentioned he want to face Alvarez.
Canelo vs Crawford is the largest combat in boxing. There’s incorrect fighter in the market that’s a larger combat next us.
— Terence Crawford (@terencecrawford) September 8, 2023
“I always say if the fight makes sense, why not? But [Crawford’s] not in the plan,” Canelo mentioned on the postfight information convention.
Pressed additional a few attainable combat with Crawford, Alvarez mentioned: “If it makes sense, maybe. I don’t know right now. Let me enjoy this fight and then you’re going to know what’s next.”
Alvarez may now not know who’s then, however he’s certain of 1 factor: He’s again. In all probability, he’s peerless at 168 kilos and underneath. It’s taking to speed a distinct fighter to overcome Alvarez.
Bivol qualifies as one such boxer however even that combat took park at 175 kilos. Alvarez has now wiped clean out the tremendous middleweight category — his category — save for David Benavidez. Or even he could be an underdog by contrast reinvigorated, wholesome model of Alvarez.
“Finally, I’m back,” Alvarez mentioned. “I feel confident right now. I feel great. I’m happy because I didn’t feel like this for a long time. But now I’m back.”
