Canelo isn't past his best

He's obviously on the decline. Nothing to take away from Ryder but I didn't see the accuracy, defense, or speed from Canelo. Very poor performance for his standards.

Bivol and Benavidez both destroy Canelo and I will he shocked if Canelo actually takes the fight against the Mexican Monster.

 

Clenelo fan boys are blinded

 

Against GGG 3 and Ryder from about round 8 onward, his output was noticeably diminished and he was getting hit way more.

The Canelo from a few years ago had bona-fide elite defense: fantastic head movement, and great IQ and reflexes to anticipate & evade punches (or at least roll with them).

But the Canelo from the past 3 fights (Bivol onward) has had anything but good defense. His punch power is still there, his chin is fine too, but his reflexes are basically shot and he doesn't have the gas tank to fight effectively for the full 12 rounds anymore.

 

Canelo has looked more vulnerable in his last three fights, so obviously people are right to question whether he has truly regressed. Although to me at least he looked as the same as ever, and people are slightly exaggerating. There are three reasons for this, IMO.

A) The hyperbolic praise was on overdrive after 2021, and a lot of people were falling over themselves talking about how good he was and how cruiserweights like Makabu (even Usyk) had no chance against him. After his defeat to Bivol, the illusion of Canelo being this Mexican machine has been destroyed for the general public.

B) Canelo fights too often, which leads to him being over trained for most of his fights. Thrice times in 2021, twice in 2022 and now one fight in 2023 - 58 rounds against almost elite level competition (excluding Yildirim). For example, Floyd after he came back in 2009 was much more sporadic when fighting, mostly once a year until 2013.

C) Canelo's come forward, high guard style of trying to bully and bulldoze his opponents is a over used schtick as this point. He doesn't use his jab enough, doesn't throw his famous combinations anymore, and has become incredibly predictable at times, especially with the right hand. He has to start a transition and transform his style to a more jab oriented, boxer-puncher style, otherwise he will continue to struggle. Canelo isn't strong enough to push back and bully the likes of Bivol, Beterbiev and Benavidez (the dangerous B-trio).

But everything I said is just my opinion. My worthless two cents. Just consider this a opinion from a stranger online.

 

I think he's past his best and as a canelo fan I hate to admit it.

 

Canelo is definitely on the back 9. He better avoid The Mexican Monster or Morrell. And I have no doubts that he will. Bivol will beat him again. So it is a difficult dilemma for Canelo. Alas, no more Yildirim type of fighters.

 

Past his best but still elite

 

Canelo's prime was between Chavez Jr to Rocky Fielding.

 

This.

 

30 months, no?