Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez is currently the WBC/WBA Junior Middleweight titleholder and RING Magazine/Lineal Light Middleweight Champion.
He’s defeated 42 opponents, 30 of them by knockout, and has yet to experience the bitter taste of defeat.
(Images courtesy of SHOWTIME)
However these accomplishments, in the eyes of some, hold no merit. They’re viewed as victories against second rate boxers. This logic is flawed, and baseless.
‘Canelo’ Alvarez is set to fight arguably the best boxer in the sport today in Floyd Mayweather Jr. (44-0, 26 KO’s) on September 14th. This alone is an accomplishment in itself.
To be given the opportunity to face the pound-for-pound king is considered an honor and a measurement of one’s abilities.
Boxing is founded on the principle that the champion fights the highest ranked opponent.
WORKOUT: CANELO ALVAREZ Photo by: Gene Blevins – Hoganphotos / Golden Boy Promotions / SHOWTIME The naysayers who discredit Canelo are then discrediting Mayweather because the argument Canelo is an unworthy opponent, feeds the argument Floyd handpicks unworthy opponents for the sake of winning.
A fighter’s worth can be measured on his accomplishments and on the level of competition he has faced.
Whose body of work is currently considered the best?
Well, none other than the pound-for-pound-king Floyd Mayweather and we use him as the measuring stick of success.
Floyd had a successful amateur career winning a Silver medal in the 1996 Olympics. He then won his first major title the WBC belt against Genaro Hernandez in his 18th fight.
In comparison, Canelo who had a very short amateur career and turned pro at the age of 15, won a medal at the Junior Mexican National Championships just before turning pro. And in his 19th fight he defeated Gabriel Martinez for his first recognized title (WBA Fedecentro welterweight) and stopped Matthew Hatton while still only 20 to win his first major world title (WBC Light Middleweight).
Both started out very impressively, winning championships early in their careers.
Let’s fast forward some and take a look at their most recent opponents. Mayweather fought Shane Mosley, Victor Ortiz, Miguel Cotto, and Robert Guerrero. All worthy opponents with impressive skills in their own rights. Canelo’s last four are Kermit Cintron (former IBF champion, title once held by Mayweather), Shane Mosley (Mayweather opponent), Josesito Lopez (defeated Mayweather opponent Ortiz), and Austin Trout (defeated Mayweather opponent Cotto).
There are many similarities in their level of competition and in their recent accomplishments.
Canelo is an undefeated champion and should be treated as such; we can’t praise one champion and then seek to vilify the other.
