Although Canelo Alvarez is naturally bigger and slightly taller than Floyd Mayweather, some may be underestimating the pound-for-pound king’s size advantage in one area. Reach.
If the numbers on BoxRec and Showtime are accurate, Mayweather, with his 72 inch reach, will enjoy a one inch advantage despite being the shorter man. (Main pic courtesy of Showtime)
Although an inch may seem trivial to the novice fan, given Floyd’s speed advantage, awesome use of angles and overall experience, having the longer reach will be a key element in this bout. If the man with the longer reach and his opponent are standing square, the fighter with the greater wingspan can hit his foe at a distance where he cannot be reached, regardless of any height or structural size advantage the fighter with the shorter reach has.
On the outside, of course, the onus is on the longer-armed fighter to find that distance and minimize his opponent’s use of angles advantageous to him.
The greater the reach advantage, the easier it is for the fighter with the longer wingspan to find that safe distance on the outside.
And on the inside, the fighter with the longer reach isn’t always at a disadvantage. A fighter with longer arms can loop his shots at wider angles, catching his foe with shots the shorter-armed fighter may not see. Also, with a reach advantage, a fighter can more easily grab and clinch on the inside, something some experts believe Mayweather may have to do effectively September 14.
Reach, of course, is not the end-all be-all of defensive fighting. After all, a 5’7″ boxer with a 70 inch reach can outjab a 6’4″ opponent with an 81 inch via the former’s use of elements such as superior speed, technique (via better angles) and timing. (Whether one, all or a combination thereof) – But like height in basketball, reach can be advantageous in boxing.
In terms of reach, how have Floyd Mayweather and Canelo stacked up with key opponents?
Floyd Mayweather – 72 inches
UD 12 vs Robert Guerrero Mayweather + 2 inches
UD 12 vs Miguel Cotto Mayweather +5 inches * Interesting how the seasoned Cotto was able to land some good shots on Floyd despite the reach difference and Floyd’s speed
UD 12 vs Shane Mosley Mayweather + 1 inch
UD 12 vs Juan Manuel Marquez Mayweather + 5 inches
SD 12 vs Oscar De La Hoya De La Hoya +1 inch
UD 12 (x2) vs Jose Luis Castillo Mayweather +3 inches
TKO 10 vs Diego Corrales Mayweather + 2 inches
Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez – 71 inches
UD 12 vs Austin Trout Trout +2 inches
TKO 5 vs Josesito Lopez Alvarez +2 inches
UD 12 vs Shane Mosley Reach even
TKO 5 vs Kermit Cintron Cinton +3
