GGG won both fights, BUT...

...big respect to Canelo for:

1. Taking the fights at all
2. Fighting as he did in the second fight

Canelo used a smart strategy in the second fight. He basically smothered GGG and worked to tire GGG out.

GGG can't fight 3-minute rounds any longer, and hasn't been able to for a few years now. Stamina is usually the first thing to go in an athlete (especially a pressure fighter), and it's been an issue for GGG for some time.

Still, to execute such a strategy as Canelo did you have to walk into the lion's den and take shots. And Canelo took some hard shots in the second fight. Very hard. And he showed a lot of chin, courage and stamina in doing so.

GGG is the better fighter, I don't think that's in question. But even if you feel that way, you still should be able to appreciate the ability of Canelo.

As someone who was disgusted with Canelo after testing positive, I'm here to give him legit respect tonight. He has improved a ton as a fighter, and he had the guts to get into the ring with GGG twice. Even against an old GGG, that takes a lot of will.

Great fight. I think it's time for GGG to hang them up, and we'll see where Canelo goes from here. I'm happy for Alvarez because I think he turned a lot of people like me around tonight in how we view him. I hope he's clean, and my guess is he is clean (he looked much thinner this time around).

 

I think this is the end for GGG. The cracks have been clear since at least Brook, and it's not going to get better. There are still fighters he can beat, but the blueprint is out.

Canelo is going to have a tough time with in-prime, large middleweights. No doubt. Not sure where Jacobs is at right now physically but if he's still prime, I'm not sure Canelo would want that fight. Just as an example.

 

I can see maybe a draw, maybe possibly a small Canelo win, but I think over the 24 rounds it's clear who is better.

Let me put it this way -- if both fighters were in their prime I don't think this fight would be close. And I actually respect Canelo. But GGG has dropped off significantly.

The old GGG would have finished this fight off in Round 9, at the latest. But he doesn't have the stamina or timing and etc to do it now. Not against someone with Canelo's movement and energy.

 

I was upset, for sure, but that's the sport. It happens over and over again.

I can see how a person could score the fight for Canelo. I just don't think Canelo won.

 

BJS, yeah.

I've never seen Charlo fight so can't comment.

Canelo is small and doesn't seem to have big power at the weight. It will make things very hard for him against in-prime opponents with power.

 

I know it's the "chicken or egg" thing with GGG. Did he get old or did his opponent level improve?

Guys didn't want to fight him when he was younger, including Canelo.

I've seen a lot of fighters over many decades and GGG is legit. If you want to see a fraud (even though I like him) think of someone like Lemieux. Lemieux is a limited slugger (who is very good at that aspect of boxing).

GGG is a complete fighter, but one who is "prime dependent." That is, once the physical skills go things fall apart fast (because he can't do what he needs to do in order to be at his best, which is pressure the opponent. Also, he didn't have an excess of speed to lose so once that started to go he was similarly in bad shape).

Some guys can look great for longer. Other guys are amazing in prime and not so great out of it. GGG is the latter, even though he's still very good in decline.