As fight fans know, typically they seem to never get the match ups they want, whether it’s Mayweather vs Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Lopez vs Yuriorkis Gambo or Klitschko vs Klitschko, boxing fans are usually left with big name fighters taking the easy route- fighters with a name but no legitimate chance to win.
Roy Jones Jr had the formula down, low risk-huge payday, it seemed that in the late 90’s Jones Jr was able to pick and choose fighters that almost never deserved a shot at him, yet HBO seemed to allow it to happen over and over again.
Floyd Mayweather would tell the world fighters such as Carlos Baldomir or Zab Judah were dangerous opponents and they deserved a shot to face him all the while he would bypass a prime Miguel Cotto.
However for every fight that has failed to be made, almost without question “The One” fight card has been soundly praised as being the best Main and Co-Main event fight card that any promotional company could have made. Pound for pound champion Floyd Mayweather facing the hottest name in boxing Saul “Canelo” Alvarez was possibly the biggest names fight fans wanted other than a Pacquiao fight.
Add the addition of the second hottest name in boxing Lucas Matthysse vs Danny Garcia and atleast on paper even the overpriced nosebleed tickets and $600 a pop actually seems like a deal.
And while many believe that Canelo is in over his head, there is still that unknown factor once they get in the ring that anything could happen. Mayweather could finally show his age, the right punch can knockout the best of them and there is always the saying in boxing “styles make fights” that fight fans are holding out hope that Canelo actually pull off the impossible feat of beating the undisputed Mayweather.
However as much faith and belief Canelo fans have in Mexico’s favorite son will all but dissipate somewhere between the 4th and 6th round on Sept. 14th. Simply put-Canelo IS out of his league. This is not to say that Canelo is not a really good fighter or that he won’t become one of the best fighters ever, but not right now, not at this point of his young career is he ready to beat Floyd Mayweather.
Canelo simply lacks the tools to win. There is not one thing he does better than Mayweather. He lacks speed, defense, power, ring generalship and most importantly the boxing I.Q. If one was to rate the skills, Canelo may get 7s or 8s across the board, Mayweather would get no less than a 9 in any area and many may argue that Mayweather lacks power, I would suggest anyone to rewatch the Mosley, Cotto and even the Guerrero fight. Mayweather wore all three of these fighters down and had the power going into the championship rounds to take out any of the three and when compared to Canelo, his power is better.
I, personally am not convinced Canelo actually has true knockout power. While Canelo’s chin has yet to be actually tested by a legitimate fighter, Mayweather has proved he can take a punch and he is smart enough to survive. All traits that Canelo has yet to show.
This is the fight not only the fight fans wanted but also Canelo himself wanted and it’s great for boxing that the best are fighting one another. Canelo is far ahead of what his age indicates and there is something to be said for that. Confidence and the belief Canelo has in himself speaks volumes-it’s a good reason why so many boxing fans believe that he can win. But in the end this fight simply is not going to go the way Canelo will want.
There will be an “O” that will have to go, just don’t expect it to be Mayweather.