Canelo Alvarez had faced persistent murmurs about being past his prime, some even said that he was good in his prime days but not anymore. However, Alvarez has silenced those doubts and quibbles on Saturday night after dominating Jermell Charlo to retain his unified super middleweight championship.
Alvarez confidently asserted after winning the the fight on unanimous decision, “No one can defeat this version of Canelo.” Alvarez’s victory, with scores of 119-108, 118-109, and 118-109, was complemented by staggering statistics. He landed 42 punches compared to Charlo’s meager 11, primarily consisting of powerful blows from both fighters.
Although Charlo, the unified junior middleweight champion, moved up two weight classes to face Alvarez, standing four inches taller with a 2 1/2-inch reach advantage, Alvarez’s experience proved pivotal in this clash of two 33-years old middleweight boxers.
Charlo expressed his sense of not being himself in the ring, without making excuses. He now contemplates returning to the 154-pound division and potentially facing Terence Crawford.
The Most Honest Retirement Speech in Boxing World
Alvarez’s recent performance against Charlo served as a litmus test for his ability to recapture past greatness, and he undoubtedly succeeded. However, the question remains whether he can maintain this level of excellence over time.
Regarding his future opponents, there is uncertainty. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has designated David Benavidez as Alvarez’s mandatory challenger for the super middleweight belt. However, Alvarez has not committed to facing Benavidez, potentially risking the forfeiture of his championship.
When asked about his future plans after the fight, Alvarez simply replied, “Cinco de Mayo against whoever. I don’t care.”
Alvarez dedicated his training camp to targeting Charlo’s body, a strategy he executed throughout the fight, relentlessly backing up Charlo and focusing on midsection shots.
The early rounds saw both fighters cautious, but Alvarez assumed the role of aggressor in the second round, with Charlo frequently on the defensive. Alvarez continued to deliver power punches in the fourth, and Charlo hoped for an opening that never materialized.
Charlo had his best moment in the fifth round, but Alvarez quickly reasserted control in the sixth, exciting the pro-Alvarez crowd.
In the seventh round, Alvarez sent Charlo to the canvas, only the second knockdown in Charlo’s career. Alvarez maintained control for the remainder of the fight, showcasing a one-sided performance.
Alvarez, while not securing a knockout, expressed satisfaction with the victory, emphasizing that the purpose of 12-round fights is to determine the better fighter.
