By: Sean Crose
He’s solely 34, which actually isn’t THAT outdated by modern boxing requirements. But, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, the person who maybe nonetheless stays king of the game of boxing, has been preventing professionally for the reason that age of 15. That’s 65 fights in a profession that’s pushing 20 years in size. That, merely put, is a complete lot of boxing. Maybe that’s why folks are actually viewing the crimson haired star as being a bit over the hill. Boxing, in spite of everything, has a method of taking its toll. Legends, nonetheless, even growing old legends, die arduous.
That’s why some would possibly argue it’s unwise to easily write the 61-2-2 multi-divisional titlist off. Sure, Canelo doesn’t appear to have the pop he as soon as did lately, and sure there are these arguing the person is avoiding powerhouse David Benavidez, however Canelo has extra expertise in opposition to prime stage competitors than most different fighters in historical past. Floyd Mayweather, Gennady Golovkin, Daniel Jacobs, Sergey Kovalev, Dmitry Bivol. These names signify simply a number of the notable competitors Canelo has confronted over time. The truth that he has bested the overwhelming majority of that competitors is already a given.
It’s maybe no shock then that the person is closely favored to defeat Edgar Berlanga when the 2 meet Saturday night time in Los Vegas for Canelo’s quite a few tremendous middleweight world titles. Whereas New York’s Berlanga is youthful and maybe greater than Canelo, he’s by no means met anybody near Canelo’s caliber earlier than – not even an growing old Canelo. Nonetheless, the Canelo-Berlanga bout goes to air on pay per view. Canelo, like Mayweather earlier than him, solely fights for a pay per view payment. It’s one of many perks of ring greatness.
The probabilities of Canelo-Berlanga being an enormous paper per view success, nonetheless, is unlikely. He might have helped herald two million buys when he fought Mayweather over a decade in the past, however Berlanga isn’t a prime identify. And that is an period the place solely the largest names deliver within the largest numbers. Not that Canelo cares. Once more, he’s been at this sport for a very long time, and has been in a position to primarily name the photographs for years now.
Canelo additionally has a cussed streak – or is it a great advertising and marketing sense? He has no intention of being one of many numerous fighters who ended up going broke as a result of he was unwilling or unable to dictate the course of his profession. For that, frankly, the man deserves credit score.
