It's going to be the same story, different fighter on Saturday between Floyd Mayweather and Saul "Canelo" Alvarez.
This projects to be Mayweather's toughest test in years. He's 36 years old and fighting a guy who's 13 years younger and entering into the prime of his career. This isn't like "Money's" bout with Robert Guerrero, when fans and experts needed to be convinced at every opportunity that it could be a level fight.
There's a very real chance he could only have his unblemished record for a few more days. Alvarez is a talent, and he's not going to be afraid to take the fight to his opponent.
This fight, on paper, should be much more exciting than the Guerrero bout, since the gulf in class between the two fighters isn't as great.
The result won't be any different, though. Mayweather will control the fight and give Alvarez little chance of finding that critical blow that could end the fight.
The more casual boxing fans will bemoan not seeing a knockout or having Mayweather upset. The more nuanced boxing fan will see the fight for what it is: Money deploying a certain strategy to win and executing it to perfection.
If Mayweather comes out victorious, it's not going to be because of a knockout. Only two of his last nine fights haven't gone to a decision. He's never been anything close to a knockout artist, and most of his knockout victories have been more a result of his opponent's ineptitude rather than Mayweather going for it.
At his age, most of his power is gone as well. Money's best strategy will be to prolong the fight and let the judges decide.
You cannot bet against Mayweather's defense, and it will see him through to the end. He's one of the best defensive fighters in the history of boxing. It's a skill that has prolonged his career and made almost every one of his opponents look like they didn't belong in the same ring as him.
The way he's able to read his opponents and duck out of the way might lack the excitement of a big knockout, but when it's happening, you're watching a genius at work.
There hasn't been anything in Mayweather's latest fights to indicate that Father Time is going to hit him like a brick wall on Saturday. He's obviously lost a step, but he hasn't fallen off so much that he's a much worse fighter.
That day is going to come sooner or later. Just don't count on it happening on Saturday.
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