Two years ago, if you asked me what I thought of Canelo Alvarez, I would have told you I though he was over rated. I hype machine of Golden Boy and a fighter a nation so desperately wanted to anoint as the next great Mexican fighter. A fighter who up to that point had been given opposition to look spectacular against and was basically handed the map to a belt.
However, since his one sided beat down of Josesito Lopez, Canelo had been given a number of different and difficult fighters to face. From Austin Trout to Alfredo Angulo to Floyd Mayweather and now Erislandy Lara. Canelo has faced some of the best competition available over the past two years has become a more complete fighter. However, while it was hard to justify Canelo facing Mayweather last fall, it is also hard to argue there was a better option at the time.
Alas, Canelo was handily defeated by Mayweather. Many were not sure how the loss would effect him, but 10 months later Canelo is facing another stern test in Lara. A fighter who few know outside of the hardcore fans but pose many problems for the young Mexican fighter. Speed, a high boxing IQ, ability to fight through adversity (see Angulo fight)and did I mention speed? The main issue Canelo faced against Mayweather. Now Canelo is back in the lions mouth, speed. Many forget that Mayweather beat him to the punch every time. Instead they are too enamored with the boxing display Canelo showed against Angulo. A fighter who in the past showed great punching ability but was not the fastest fighter out there. Lara is not Angulo and while many will base how Lara got dropped against Angulo and Canelo dominated Angulo. They believe that Canelo should have easy time against Lara. However.
Styles make fights.
Saturday night is a make or break for both fighters. A Canelo loss and it significantly hurts his and Golden Boys stock. A loss for Lara and he most likely goes back to toiling into obscurity trying for another shot against a big name.
Will Canelo overcome his past limitations with speed or will Lara finally get the mainstream recognition that has been eluding him since his questionable loss to Paul Williams. Diego Corrales said it best, this will be “war of attrition.”
4th of July may be over but come this Saturday and there are sure to be some more fireworks in Las Vegas.
And then…
One word. Lomachenko.
Dude is a beast. The clinic he put on Gary Russell Jr. a fighter who many felt was the next big thing but has been handled with kid gloves was one of the best fights I’ve seen this year. While it was a head scratcher that Lomchenko’s team would put him in with a fighter like Russell Jr. after coming off a loss to Salido, he also deserved the shot. Lomachenko has the goods. If the competition he has faced is what is to be expected from his career, the boxing fans should be in for an exciting career.