An indicator of Canelo’s exceptional skills can be observed in his recent fight against John Ryder, a recognized super middleweight fighter. Canelo impressively controlled the match for 9 or 10 rounds, causing Ryder to suffer a broken nose and a knockdown. However, despite such a remarkable performance, some critics only rated it as a C or B performance.
Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.
It’s worth discussing whether Canelo is past his prime and how that will impact his future. One intriguing aspect of Canelo is that despite being the same age as some of his peers, he appears to be much older.
For example, Canelo is 32 years old.
The Charlo Brothers are 32. Errol Spence is 33. Bud Crawford is 35.
What sets Canelo apart from his peers is that he began his professional career at the young age of 16. He faced undefeated fighters when he was only 19. At the age of 23, he had already participated in 43 fights, which was only one less than Mayweather who was 36 years old at the time of their fight. Presently, almost a decade later, Canelo has participated in 63 fights.
There are many camps associated with Canelo’s career. Unlike Bud Crawford, who hasn’t faced any significant challenges in a long time, Canelo has fought against numerous champions from different weight classes and styles in several grueling matches.
Canelo has suffered from injuries since the beginning of his career, including a knee injury. Additionally, he has amassed an impressive net worth, estimated to be between $180-$300 million.
As the great Marvelous Marvin Hagler once said.
“It’s tough to get out of bed to do roadwork at 5am when you’ve been sleeping in silk pajamas”.
Is Canelo Alvarez experiencing a decline in his career? This is the original question that needs addressing.
The answer is yes, but that doesn’t mean he still wouldn’t be favored against every potential opponent not named Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev and the only reason they would be favored is that Canelo clearly shouldn’t be fighting in that weight class.
Although Canelo may no longer be in his prime, he still maintains his elite status.
According to Mayweather, he did not defeat Canelo during his peak performance, and his major commercial fights took place after he was no longer in his prime, relying more on his strategic thinking than sheer brute force to overcome his opponents.
Boxing legends such as Bernard Hopkins, Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard, Robert Duran, and Manny Pacquiao, among many others, achieved some of their most remarkable victories and memorable fights despite being in the later stages of their careers.
Nonetheless, there are still significant opportunities available for Canelo, and when a formidable fighter displays any weaknesses, it only serves to make upcoming matches all the more exciting.
There is no way anyone would think David Benavidez could be a PRIME Canelo, but this version Canelo gives people some doubt and that is what makes for great fights.
The Gervonta Davis-Ryan Garcia fight garnered high sales due to the anticipation of a potential challenge for Davis, finally giving fans hope for a competitive match.
Instead of being upset about Canelo not being the same, people should be excited about the possibilities that can arise from this change.