Floyd Mayweather Jr. might lose a fight eventually, but it’s not going to be against youngster Saul “Canelo” Alvarez on September 14.
Rumblings of Mayweather’s downfall have long been exaggerated. With every new competitor that steps up to the plate, we’re inundated with continual accounts about why this guy will be the one to usurp the pound-for-pound king from his throne.
Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero was supposed to be a fast puncher who could end Mayweather’s night with a single punch. Instead, Money put on a boxing clinic and evaded all of those quick hits to silence the notion that he might be losing a step as he creeps closer to the age of 40.
So why is Canelo different? What gives him the edge that none of the 44 others have had when trying to defeat Mayweather?
While Alvarez is just 23 years old, he’s not your typical inexperienced fighter. His 42-0-1 record at such a young age speaks volumes about his experience and success in the ring. That experience will be vital as he’ll have to dig deep into his arsenal and memory to come up with effective tactics while taking straight right hands to the head for 12 rounds.
This one’s likely destined to go the distance.
He’s known as a quick fighter who’s technically sound in his own right but one that struggles with stamina as fights wear on. Attribute that to his propensity to drop severe amounts of weight before each bout. Canelo frequently fights at 154 pounds, but typically weighs in anywhere from the upper 160s to lower 170s on fight day.
This bout will be fought at a catch weight of 152 pounds, making it an even bigger drop for Canelo just 24 hours before the bell is rung.
But with that additional size, Alvarez will have some added power behind his punches. The only question is whether or not it’ll be enough to take Money down with a single shot. If not, the likelihood isn’t very high for him to penetrate Money’s defense enough to land the flurry needed to send him to the mat.
As a result of his size, Canelo also fights flat-footed. This will hurt him against Mayweather’s speed. Plus, his punches won’t be as quick, especially later in the fight, allowing Money to counter and brush off even the biggest power shots.
It’s not going to be an easy victory for Mayweather. Canelo brings the size, technical skill and determination that it takes to be a massive success in the sport. But given everything we know about Money’s conditioning and near-flawless acumen in the ring, it doesn’t look like anything short of a miracle punch is going to end his reign on top.
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