FightPost Boxer of the Week: Canelo Alvarez

FightPost Boxer of the Week: Canelo Alvarez

By Gary Kittilsen

In what was one of the, if not the busiest boxing weekends of the year. Numerous world champs, former champs and future champs all handed in spectacular performance.

However, one mans performance stood head and shoulders above all others. Canelo Alvarez joined a very elite group of fighters to capture world titles in four different weight divisions by scoring a sensational 11th round knockout of WBO light heavyweight champ Sergey Kovalev at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In a fight that the judges had even and most observers had Canelo behind in produced high drama as Canelo scored a three punch knockout that seemingly came out of nowhere to capture the WBO light heavyweight title, our Fighter of the Week award and will likely add fighter of the year honours and has put himself in the fighter of the decade conversation.

Canelo was at a noticeable size and reach disadvantage and the blue print that trainer Buddy McGirt drew up was obvious. Keep the shorter man and the end of the jab and Kovalev was executing the game plan to perfection.

Out jabbing and out working Canelo, and seemingly putting rounds in the bank. The Russian champ seemed to have the fight going his way in the ninth and the tenth and going into the eleventh it seemed if the Krusher could stay behind his jab, he could run out the clock and take a decision victory. That’s when Canelo struck.

With about a minute left in round eleven a straight right hand rocked the Russian, a follow up left hook and picture perfect straight right hand down the pipe dropped Kovalev and left him helplessly crumpled up in the ropes, bringing in referee Russell Mora to waive off the fight and hand Canelo the dramatic knockout victory and the WBO world title.

Alvarez joined only three other junior middleweight champs who are now in the hall of fame to also win a strap at light heavyweight. The four other men to have accomplished it are Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns and Mike McCallum. The icon from Guadalajara will certainly be joining them after he decided to hang up the gloves for good.

Canelo Alvarez is one of the two biggest names in the sport, he is willing to fight anyone and is willing to fight in three different weight classes. That combination gives him a litany of attractive options. Everyone from Jermall Charlo to Dmitry Bivol and Callum Smith are going to be on the table.

However, the most likely opponents would be a trilogy with GGG or a showdown with 168 pound WBO champ Billy Joe Saunders. Canelo typically fights on Cinco de Mayo weekend and promoter Oscar De La Hoya has mentioned that weekend as the most likely date for Canelo to fight next.

If Canelo does return on that weekend there is also a possibility of making an all Mexican showdown on the Mexican holiday against Gilberto Ramirez.

Photo Credit: Amanda Westcott / DAZN