You are right, don't forget Manny. Coming from 106 all the way to beating guys at 147. Loma fighting 2 divisions below what he should have been and dominating and of course Usyk. Beating giants that out weigh him by 30-40 pounds and making it look easy. Yeah, so let's not overlook all the PED's in the sport.
This punch is rolled by canelo. It doesnt fully connect. Canelo is a master rolling punches, likely the best now, and by far.
So you're sticking to your guns from your post in the other thread? You think the judges were pro-American and anti-Canelo?
He may have been more than a bit unimaginative, but I thought he was trying his best, especially considering his tank was nearly emptied. Just standing up against that incoming fire and swinging away with mean shots gave me that impression. Canelo's never used the jab much (although when he was sporadically using it against Bud, I actually thought it was effective). In recent years, he's no longer the boxer he once was. Almost like when Mosley went from being this quick combo speedster to more of a "power boxer". Canelo started in a different spot, more of a counter puncher type, and I wouldn't exactly say he ended up where Mosley did, but they both shifted their respective styles (for the worse, IMO - especially when compared to, say, Marco Antonio Barrera, where later in his career, he transitioned into something more patient and funamentally sound). In any case, maybe Canelo wasn't good enough to compete on the level of Floyd, Bivol, Bud, or even GGG back when they first met. (I maintain Canelo was solid and impressive in the rematch, even though I had GGG edging that one, too). But I still definitely believed he WAS trying, he was just getting outmaneuvered and tagged for his troubles. I was especially impressed because after that one moment in round 11, for a brief moment I wondered if he wasn't going to pull a "no mas" (and I'm kicking myself for not mentioning that in the fight review, but sometimes fleeting thoughts slip my mind when I'm doing a review). But we're 100% on the same page regarding Bud. He was incredibly well prepared, and this fight left his team looking like strategic geniuses (and I mean that in a GOOD WAY). Cheers!
I've been hoping that for YEARS, but I never really thought of it from that angle. That's actually a brilliant selling point for those of us who wish for the removal of the newer divisions. Good stuff!
I don't necessarily see it as a reluctance to test it. I think it stems more from lack of endurance. Very, very early in his career, I was amazed by how patient and methodical Canelo was, mature beyond his years, almost in excess. It was impressive and sometimes frustrating. I don't think he was ever blessed with legendary stamina. When he hit his prime years (in my view, starting with GGG2 and ending with GGG3) he paced himself better and his stamina notably improved somewhat. Circling back, lack of endurance and versatility are, I think, bigger culprits than lack of heart.
You're absolutely correct about his style. He's always been a very skilled boxer-puncher who uses great head movement to catch you. He's never really been a true pressure fighter with punch highout. So maybe it is asking too much for him to sell out, and go for broke to turn a fight around. He's never seem like a guy who feels comfortable getting into a fire fight.
It makes sense from a purist stand point but from a business angle, more division equals more belts which equals more money. It's an unfortunate reality.
Yes. Although I agree Crawford won the late rounds, Canelo had build up a lead during the earlier rounds, some of which Crawford just ran and kept his distance, seemingly afraid to engage. It was a close fight, and the judges favored the home country fighter as they so often do. I don't think Canelo conceded, I just think he was tired and frustrated by the late rounds. He looked old during the 11th and 12th rounds. Crawford showed he still has very good stamina, he was on the move in every round.
I'd call it more of a gift decision than a robbery. It was a close fight, and I did not give rounds to Crawford in which he didn't do much except run away. Crawford did finish stronger in rounds 11 and 12, Canelo looked old and tired by that point.
No they didn't. In a scenario where Crawford was favoured by the judges, cards would've looked like 118-110, 119-109 in his favour. Canelo himself knew that he was losing by the 11th round and things only got worse for him after that. He didn't have more than 2 clear rounds in his favour in the entire fight. And Canelo is a guy who got favourable judging against ****ing Floyd Mayweather, the biggest money-maker in the history of the sport. You have to be beyond deluded or have some bizarre agenda to believe a non-draw like Crawford who's at the end of his career would be unjustly favoured by the judges against him.