Fight Night: Now It’s Canelo’s Turn
By Christian Giudice
christiangiudice@hotmail.com
The reality of the sport of boxing is that it often doesn’t make sense. Inside the ring, smaller guys beat bigger, stronger opponents; superior fighters get knocked out cold; and skilled young fighters are pushed to the limit by cagey veterans. Deep down it’s what fans love about the sport—that unpredictability, the rush.
On Saturday, when Canelo Alvarez steps into the ring at the MGM Grand to face Floyd Mayweather Jr. for the WBA and WBC Light Middleweight titles, he will be fighting a battle that he’s not supposed to win. Nobody comes into Vegas and takes down the great Floyd Mayweather. Having cornered the market with his slick marketing, Mayweather has made himself the unofficial CEO of the sport.
That’s where Alvarez comes in. A veritable extra in Mayweather’s boxing blockbuster, the Jalisco native has been labeled by many as another one of Mayweather’s throwaways—mere fodder for the Hall of Famer. We’ve seen it all before, haven’t we? So full of adrenaline, Alvarez may get lucky over the first couple rounds and stun Mayweather. He may even win the first couple rounds, and force Mayweather to come from behind.
It will be no cause for concern. By the sixth round, Mayweather will be toying with his opponent, shooting those vicious right hands, shooting Money smiles to his TMT team at ringside, simultaneously shooting down any gameplan that Alvarez and his team have cooked up. By the eighth round, Mayweather will be mercilessly mocking his opponent, and as the final bell sounds, he will victoriously head back to his corner to be lifted by his legion of followers. We have seen the blueprint so many times before.
Just another day at the office, right baby?
Wrong. Not this time.
Even Mayweather can get so enamored with himself and his wealth that he blinds himself to another brutal reality—never pick a fight you can’t win. This time around, Mayweather has picked a fight with the wrong kid.
Mayweather knows all too well the feeling of being on the cusp of something special. Years ago, he was building his legacy as the greatest fighter of a generation. He knows the burden that comes with such responsibility. There are few moments when a young fighter teeters on the verge of greatness. Such a moment is so rare that, at times, it’s hard to put complete faith into the fighter.
Initially, the fan becomes mesmerized when the fighter delivers a near perfect performance, dazzled by the crunching sound of a body shot, the crispness of a lead uppercut, or the precision of a vicious combination. Even the casual boxing fan can marvel at the genius apparent in the ring.
The questions soon arise, more accusatory than interrogative. Is he really ready? How will he react when he faces the late-round adversity? Has he faced any elite fighters? Will he fulfill his potential?
Then the dissection and the comparisons set in, each time probing deeper into the fighter’s style and psyche.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. is a polished fighter at every aspect of the fight game. He’s built such a spectacular résumé that it almost seems absurd to consider the possibility of him losing. Even though his antics have worn thin over the years, his passion and boxing skills haven’t dissipated.
Nevertheless, Alvarez is 23 years old and is still growing as a fighter. He’s improving defensively, moves well, has good speed, and punches with exceptional power. When he gets an opponent hurt, he becomes relentless. Few fighters of this generation commit to their hooks to the body with the same passion that Alvarez does.
Conversely, Alvarez is a work in progress, and hasn’t always been in top shape, tends to move away from his effective, heavy jab, and is not adept at making necessary changes in his fights. Despite his age and lack of experience, Alvarez understands the magnitude of what he’s walking into this Saturday night. He completely grasps the reality of being bigger than the great Mexican fighters who paved the way. Underneath the bluster and hype of the fight, Alvarez is not overwhelmed.
Is Alvarez the best fighter in the world? No, not yet. He’s not another Ruben Olivares, Salvador Sanchez, or Julio Cesar Chavez. He’s the first Canelo Alvarez. But he’s on the verge of something special. Even though he’s not supposed to win this Saturday, he will.
Mayweather had his time.
Now, it’s Canelo’s turn.