Canelo looks like a bum trying to land one big shot at a time. Benavidez is not a pretty style or a well polished diamond in the ring but he might be just too much for a near finished Canelo - The one who lost the 12th round against Ryder is not going anywhere.
"Only if the ref had waved it off" Meanwhile Canelo actually got the KO. I do think the ref did a **** job that night, but Benavidez did not show himself to be in another league of Canelo. (if anything, Benavidez would have likely gotten a late KO himself had it not been for all of the holding)
Canelo is not an easy opponent for anyone, but this would be a great fight in which Benavidez would have the height advantage and probably more power...
Ryder is an absolute beast and him winning the 12th round has less to do with Canelo being finished and everything to do with Ryder's hesrt. And please tell me when is the last time anyone landed combinations on a southpaw? Especially one as compact and defensively sound as Ryder? I know it's a lot for people to process but when you're in the ring with really really talented fighters on a consistent basis, sometimes stylistically you struggle to look good against them, yes even three in a row. So these rumors of Canelo's demise have been greatly exaggerated. I say that as someone who is anything but a fan of Canelo Alvarez.
I hope ginger nuts fights Benavidez instead of Bivol. The Benavidez fight would be intriguing and quite close. But I think Canelo's quality would be enough for a UD. Benavidez has height and power but technically isn't very good.
No. There are levels to this game, even a slightly past prime Canelo will have an answer for Benavidez. Those meaty counter hooks and uppercuts will find a home early and often.
I think it's possible that Benavidez's engine and volume punching over the second half of the fight earn him the nod on the cards (provided there are no shenanigans involved). The fact that Benavidez is not and has never been a one-punch killer, coupled with Canelo's sturdy mandible, make a KO highly unlikely, however. Indeed, if I had to choose which of the two was more likely to get stopped, I'd have to select Benavidez. Canelo can still go to the body with authority, and I think he'll target Benavidez's lanky torso.
When is the last time Canelo used a combo ? He has been a one, one-two punch fighter for years now. Jab right hand. Jab right hand. He is doing only that. Canelo is not a combo puncher. The erratic aggression and volume of Benavidez is something very interesting here against a past prime Canelo. Canelo bids everything he has on hurting his opponent, he packs all the power he has behind one single punch at a time. He has no stamina in the championship rounds. Canelo will have to pay for this sooner or later.
Hard to argue with your assessment of a fight between the two, I'd say Benavidez has to back Canelo up, put him on the back foot and hurt him., a firefight as you said. Whether he can do that without getting tagged himself is problematic . Canelo is without question the favorite but I want to see if Benavidez can use his size to his advantage. It's the only fight left for me at 168 for Canelo
one of benvidez best traits is his ability to gauge distannce and use his height and reach advantage. Hes got a great jB and right hand.