Canelo-Khan: Speed kills, but brute force the difference

The fight the boxing world wants to see is Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez against Gennady Golovkin.

It's the only realistic 'super fight' boxing has left, despite the heavyweight scene currently seeing a resurgence.

The only problem is, once again, politics and promoters get in the way.

Last week Golovkin fought Dominic Wade, and annihilated him, as everyone expected.

Canelo will fight Amir Khan this Sunday.

When Golovkin vanquished David Lemieux in October last year, most thought GGG would next fight the winner of Cotto-Canelo.

But here we are, and no progress has been made.

Canelo is the heir apparent, destined to take over the throne of Boxing's King.

It's hard to believe he is still only 25-years-old.

Already he's taken on Floyd Mayweather, Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley and co.

He should be fighting Golovkin.

In the fight game matchups are made using the risk/reward formula, and Khan looks like a good fight for Canelo with this in mind.

Khan is a financial draw. He's built his name as an exciting fighter and has a diverse fan base from both Britain and parts of Asia, given his heritage.

But, his best work has been done as a Lightweight and Light Welterweight. It was only in December 2014 that he stepped up to the Welterweight limit. Now he steps up almost three divisions to take on Canelo.

On the face of it, Khan seems like a safe bet for Canelo. He's a name fighter, with a suspect chin, not known for his knockout power and someone fighting way out of his weight class.

But Khan's best asset is speed and it's the very asset that has shown to be Canelo's Achilles heel.

We saw Canelo exposed somewhat in the Floyd Mayweather fight, with the Mexican unable to deal with Mayweather’s hand speed and movement. He struggled to close the distance and looked sluggish, without throwing anything of note.

Even most recently against Miguel Cotto, the Puerto Rican won the early rounds using his jab and speed to fight on the outside. It wasn't until Cotto tired did the fight come back to the Mexican.

There’s a multimillion dollar carrot dangling for Canelo after this fight, with pressure to make a Golovkin fight mounting, but he risks that substantial pay day against Amir Khan.

The fact Khan is fighting at Middleweight for the 160 pound title* is ludicrous.

The fight itself will be fought at an agreed weight of 155 pounds, given Canelo's ( and Miguel Cotto's) appetite for not fighting at Middleweight, despite being a Middleweight World Champion.

Canelo has always been marked as an elite fighter, with the potential to go to the next level. We've all been waiting for him to assume the mantle and it seems like he's finally comfortable wearing it.

He gave us some doubts in his performance against Mayweather, but to be fair - he was only 23 at the time.

Canelo showed he had matured is his fight with Cotto and had he pressed a bit more, he could have got Cotto out of there earlier than a decision victory.

Khan’s only hope of winning would have to be a decision victory and I expect him to fight on the outside, score and then stay out of range. If he gets caught on the inside, and Canelo lands, it could be a very short night.

The Khan fight will do reasonable business. But it's not the fight boxing fans want to see.

It's time boxing learnt that if you don't give fans what they want, they'll go somewhere where they can get it. Namely, the UFC.

I expect Canelo to win on Sunday, but should he come unstuck, plans to tackle Golovkin will take a massive nose dive.

Not good news for Canelo or the sport of Boxing.

ADAM SANTAROSSA

Cotto v Canelo: The big fight that will live up to the hype

Sunday’s fight between Miguel Cotto (40-4-0) and Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez (47-1-1) is what boxing is all about.

Two of the best fighters in the world clashing in a fight mostly devoid of the usual politics that comes along with the sport.

Boxing generally has a habit of getting in its own way and we saw an example of that this week, with Cotto stripped of the WBC Middleweight Title for failing to pay $300,000 in sanctioning fees.  

Canelo can still claim the title should he win the fight, but the lack of the WBC strap doesn’t take the shine off this fight whatsoever.

With the Mayweather-Pacquiao sideshow almost gone, Cotto and Canelo have stepped up in their absence.

The only fight in boxing today that is bigger is probably Gennady Golovkin against the winner, that’s if Cotto and Canelo actually have interest in fighting him.

Had you sold me a Cotto-Alvarez fight three years ago, it would have looked very different.

Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez was the next king of boxing, whilst Miguel Cotto was slowly losing the race against father time, seemingly destined to embark on a career trajectory similar to Mosley, Maragrito and Co.

But strangely in the last two years, the tables have turned.

Miguel Cotto has sparked new life into his career, in a new division, whilst Canelo has still yet to really show he is capable of carrying boxing’s crown, with the doubters growing all the time.

It all looked so promising for Canelo. As a 23-year-old he was undefeated in 44 career fights, and landed the biggest prize in the game, a shot at Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather. 

The Mayweather fight came a little too soon for Canelo. He was fed to the wolves in a way.

Mayweather was running out of options to fight and Canelo was next in line. Golden Boy (Canelo’s promotional company) accepted the risk, knowing that if Canelo did pull off a victory, well they’d have the goose with the golden egg.

But of course we now know that Canelo wasn’t good enough to beat Mayweather and in fact the fight showed he probably wasn’t ready for it either.

The fight left you feeling that Canelo was still morphing from potential star to superstar and left you thinking, ‘what a fighter he’ll be in a few years time’.

But here we are now a few years down the line and in my opinion Canelo still hasn’t become that fighter, yet. There’s no denying he is a star, but he’s yet to become the star he was touted to be.

His fight with Miguel Cotto could be that coming out party, and there’s big pressure on the Mexican fighter to ensure it is.   

Canelo has had 47 fights, but he doesn’t fight like someone with that many rounds under his belt. Looking at his record, he’s only really had a few high profile fights. Cotto on the other hand has toiled at the elite level for years.

Canelo fought Shane Mosley back in 2012, when it is safe to say Mosley had seen better days. Austin Trout was an up and comer, but Canelo showed he was in a different class. The loss to Mayweather followed, and since then it’s been a rebuild of the Alvarez brand.

Sure, Erislandy Lara and James Kirkland are no pushovers, but they are not Miguel Cotto.

Cotto on the other hand has been in the ring with everyone. Mosley, Margarito, Pacquiao, Mayorga, Mayweather, Trout and Martinez.

It is this experience that his trainer Freddie Roach says will be the difference, and I tend to agree.

Cotto has been in wars. He’s had to dig deep and find something within himself in the championship rounds. We can’t yet say the same for Canelo.

Of Cotto’s four career losses, two have been to Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, the third was to Antonio Margarito, who was later found to be using loaded gloves.

The loss to Austin Trout was a major shock and led to Cotto linking with Roach at the Wildcard Gym.  That decision has revived the Puerto Rican fighter.

This most recent incarnation of Cotto is some fighter. Moving up a division* has reinvigorated the 35-year-old.

He is back to his destructive best, with three stoppage wins in his last three fights.

Some will punch holes in those fights. Delvin Rodriguez and Daniel Geale aren’t elite level fighters, whilst Sergio Martinez was not as his best, with injury playing his part.

But Cotto can only beat what’s in front of him and he has done so in devastating fashion.

Freddie Roach’s training has seen Cotto resemble the killer of the late 2000’s with the famed punching power back.

Floyd Mayweather came out recently and said Cotto was the only fighter to ever hurt him. If Cotto brings the intense style he has shown in the last three fights, I don’t think Canelo can handle it.

One thing that can be guaranteed is that Cotto-Canelo will live up to the hype. Both fighters bring action, both won't die wondering.

It's must see on Sunday.  

PREDICTION: I think Cotto wins. I just haven’t seen Canelo go to that next level. Some betting companies in Australia have Cotto at $8.80 to win via TKO, its handy odds!

Miguel Cotto v Saul Alvarez, Sunday 1pm AEST on MAIN EVENT PPV

Mayweather fights for his place in history

* MAYWEATHER/PACQUIAO: FIGHT OF THE CENTURY - PREVIEW

Floyd Mayweather says he's the best ever. He’s even got the clothing line to prove it.

Some consider such a claim to be trademark Mayweather brashness, another act in ‘Being the Bad Guy 101’ or an attempt to generate publicity and subsequently ticket sales and pay-per-view buys.

Many are content to waive such claims away, but honestly, why isn't he at least in the conversation.

Mayweather is 47-0, his record reads like a Hall of Fame class – Oscar De La Hoya, Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley, Diego Corrales, Juan Manuel Marquez, Ricky Hatton, Arturo Gatti, Saul Alvarez and Zab Judah have all been vanquished.

Almost all were comprehensive, with only De La Hoya giving him a significant test.

It is a record matched only by Rocky Marciano, who went 49-0 as a heavyweight.

Now, records aren’t everything, and you can punch holes in the records of many big names, but why should Mayweather not be considered amongst the greats, such as Joe Louis, Floyd Patterson, Marciano and Muhammad Ali?

The reason people don’t consider him in that calibre is because simply, he's disliked.

He’s considered too flashy, an egomaniac, only in it for the money.

They are just a few of the reasons. Not to mention his domestic violence charges and other misconduct.

This week he came out claiming he was better than Muhammad Ali and people scoffed - How are you better than our champion?

But you have to remember there was a time when Muhammad Ali was public enemy number one, in the same way Mayweather is today.

Many people hated him simply because of his background. Some labelled him ‘champ’ and many more labelled him by the colour of his skin.

Others called him a coward and a draft dodger, for being a conscientious objector when conscripted to fight for the United States in the Vietnam War.

Some simply hated him because he was a Muslim or because he walked to the beat of his own drum.

But with the grace of time his public image has softened. 

These days he is loved by all. The days of public hatred are long gone and he is simply judged on his legacy.

That's where Mayweather is lacking.

Ali is most remembered for his epics with George Foreman and Joe Frazier.

‘The Rumble in the Jungle’ and ‘Thriller in Manilla’ is gospel in the sport.

They are forever intertwined with boxing, and for many it’s their first taste of the sweet science.

At this moment Mayweather doesn't have a fight of such magnitude on his record.

Yes, he's fought future hall of famers, but up until now there's been an asterix next to his name.

He's beaten them all, but there's one name left to beat.

To be truly considered a great he needs to beat the other man with any real claims, Manny Pacquiao, the only man to ever win a world title in eight different weight divisions.

The fight may be long overdue, but I’m glad it’s happening, the final box on each mans application to the legendary tier of boxing will be complete.

I’d argue there is greatness in seeking greatness. Sometimes only the legend is willing to lay it all on the line to prove he is the better man.

It is important to consider too, that as much as you are judged on what you have done, you'll also be judged on what happens after you're gone.

Ali is remembered for his charisma, more so now in a time when the Heavyweight division is crying out for some. 

The swiftness of his movements around the boxing ring, the footwork, the showmanship, all remembered now more fondly in a time of robotic beasts.

Will anyone come and do what Mayweather has done in this modern era of the sport?

Only time will tell.

Watching Mayweather in the lead up to this fight you can see he is very different.

He's quiet. He knows the fight will define his career and the legacy he will leave.

Many years down the line, they won’t remember the box office records, the clothing line, the lack of endorsements and public popularity; they’ll judge Mayweather the fighter, the skills, the victories, the performances on those big Vegas night’s when the entire world was watching.

Mayweather has been subdued in the lead up because he can feel the pressure. He has everything to lose. The undefeated record. The crowd as boxing’s pound for pound king.

Comparing fighters across eras is a hard thing to do. There are new weight classes, time limits, titles, purses, rules and hundreds of years of evolution.

But when judging the greats there is always that one fight for which they’ll forever be remembered. When they took on the best and beat them.

Now it is Mayweather’s turn.

When history looks back on the career of Floyd Mayweather Jr, who knows if he’ll ever one day be considered the greatest, but a win on Sunday may just put him in the conversation.

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The Fight of the Century: MAYWEATHER-PACQUIAO PREVIEW

Floyd Mayweather meets Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Sunday (EST time) in the ‘Fight of the Century’, with the mantle of the best fighter on the planet up for grabs.

Personal vendettas, legal troubles, contractual disputes and the sizeable ego’s of all involved have been overcome. The pair will finally go toe to toe in front of the world.

I’ve written over 30 articles on this fight over the journey and now that it is finally here it’s hard to find something that hasn’t already been said.

All along I’ve tipped a Mayweather victory and I will not waiver from that ahead of the fight. I just believe he is a superior fighter.

He’s yet to taste defeat in 47 fights and he has been in there with the very best.

His resume reads like a list of a Hall of Fame class. Corrales, Gatti, Judah, De La Hoya, Hatton, Marquez, Mosley, Cotto, Alvarez. It is some record.  

Many fighters have been touted as the one to stop ‘Money’ Mayweather, but up until now no one has managed to find a way. It’s hard to find a Mayweather fight in recent years that wasn’t mostly one sided, with a split decision win over Oscar De La Hoya the only exception. 

Cotto and Maidana put him under pressure to an extent, but his victories over Hatton, Marquez, Mosley and Alvarez were comprehensive.

    

Some say his biggest weakness is against pressure fighters, others say he struggles with southpaws.  Well, Manny Pacquiao is both, but it doesn’t guarantee him victory.

Pacquiao is expected to bring an all action style. But so did Cotto, Marquez and Alvarez. Mayweather was too slick for all of them.

Mayweather recently defeated Marcos Maidana, a relentlessly come forward fighter, often at his detriment.  Maidana certainly brought the pressure, but Mayweather never lost his composure. He let rounds slip, and fell behind on the scorecard, but as soon as Maidana tired, he picked him to pieces.

Whilst Mayweather is coming off back to back wins over Maidana, Pacquiao is coming off a one sided win over Chris Algieri. So one sided that Pacquiao scored six knockdowns over the 12 rounds. 

He looked very good, but was it really a test.

Pacquiao has knock out power in both hands and we’ve seen him flick the switch on some of the sport’s biggest names. Knockout is his best chance of victory, but he needs to be careful himself. 

Whilst Mayweather is undefeated, Pacquiao has lost three times in his career. The Filipino suffered back to back losses in 2012, which shows there are chinks in his armour.

He loves to let his hands go, but as a result he can be a little reckless. We saw him knocked out at the hands of Juan Manuel Marquez in that fashion. Mayweather doesn’t regularly end a fight early, but he’ll latch onto even the slightest opening. Pacquiao needs to pick his moments and establish his jab before looking for the big shots.

It’s Pacquiao’s fights with Marquez that are the most telling and give us the best indication of what can trouble the Filipino. The pair has met four times across their careers, the fights almost all close and controversial decisions.

Marquez has power and uses angles well, he gives as good as he gets, and has shown us that Pacquiao can struggle when he is not able to force the pressure as he likes and when beaten to the punch.

Mayweather has never been knocked out in his 47 fight career, and has only ever been knocked down on one occasion, a flash knockdown against Carlos Hernandez back in 2001. It was the only round Mayweather lost that night.

In more recent times, we’ve seen him rocked by Shane Mosley in the opening round of their fight in 2010. This time, Mayweather didn’t go down, but similarly he won ever ensuing round of the fight.

Knockout may be Pacquiao’s best method of victory, and he is certainly capable, but finding Mayweather’s chin is another story entirely.    

I expect Mayweather to fight, as he normally does, on the outside. He’ll use his defensive skills to keep the Filipino at range and counter punch. He won’t risk coming forward and into the clutches of Pacquiao.   

Mayweather must match the intensity of Pacquiao early. Pacquiao likes to dictate and Mayweather can’t allow that to happen right off the bat. Mayweather can’t start slow like he did in the first fight with Maidana. He was caught behind early on the scorecards and only managed to wrestle control back in the back end of the fight. Pacquiao won’t afford him the same luxury.

Mayweather must bank rounds early and not let it slip. He finishes well and always comes homes stronger in the final rounds. On the flip side Pacquiao will look to start fast and seize control. He'll look for a big punch early. 

If he wins the early rounds that will force Mayweather to chance his arm as the fight progresses. This is exactly what the Filipino wants. It means Floyd has to let his hands go and press the fight and that brings a knockout into the equation.

This could be a fight for the ages and I hope it lives up to the hype. Styles make fights and this one will hopefully be a fight we remember for a long time.

Pacquiao is the biggest test Mayweather has had in his career. But I think its a test he passes, just. 

PREDICTION: MAYWEATHER by decision