Which fighter has the best chance at beating Canelo? Fighters I feel with the best chance are: Jermall Charlo - He has the jab, speed, power, athleticism & physical capabilities to match Canelo's high-guarded front-foot counter punching style. I wouldn't puck him to win, but I feel he'd give Canelo a much tougher fight than most people expect. Billy Joe Saunders - On his best form, he is a formidable talent, with quick hands, quick feet & a defensive style to give Canelo serious fits throughout the fight. The problem is he's too inconsistent, as well as not having a crowd-pleasing style needed to beat Canelo. So even if he outboxes Canelo in most rounds, he likely won't win because he's not offensive enough (similar to Lara). I can also see Canelo knocking him out so there's that. He simply isn't offensive enough to beat Canelo despite having the right game plan. Caleb Plant - similar to Saunders, but he's less proven & hasn't really fought anybody of note yet. However, he's better offensively, has more power and is bigger with a more crowd pleasing style. I see him being a problem for Canelo.
I would favor David Benny at 168. Beterbiev and Bivol would smash and impregnate Clenela. Inoue would also stop Clenela.
I don't see anyone walking through Canelo because his chin is so good. The guy who beats him may be someone like an Erislandy Lara who outboxes him. At this stage, it probably won't be Lara himself. Someone earlier mentioned Billy Joe Saunders. That could be right. Canelo has been on the right side of close decisions before. The day is probably coming when he's on the other side of the close decision.
BJS is far more hittable at 168. He’s getting caught by shots he never used to. Canelo would beat him down and stop him in my opinion.
Real P.E.D. testing Not being allowed asterisks in his fights like Catch weights, rehydration clauses, short training camp offers, suspect judging, cherry picked opponents, etc. When these two occur only then will you fully know how much of Canelo is smoke and mirrors. Until then it’s impossible to say.
Golovkin at 160 or 168. Beterbiev and Bivol at 175. There are others who would have a decent shot, but those three I would put as favorites against him. This is in a hypothetical world however that has fair judges, ref, etc.
To preface I like canelo and think he’s a great fighter but he’s far from unbeatable, considering he’s had one loss, a very controversial draw, and numerous very close fights. If he goes to LHW I’d pick bivol and beterbiev over him, at SMW I’d say BJS would give him a very good run for his money with a style canelo has struggled with historically, provided BJS is actually motivated and in shape. Caleb plant I think loses to Canelo, I just don’t really see too much special in him
Already happened, like Kova he accepted to fight on those terms. Exploiting Avarice is part of Boxing, if Hagler chased paper paydays vs 1990s stars and suffered more losses in his career (in return for more FIAT), his ATG score would have been lower.
