I've said I can respect not just a draw but a Canelo 7-5 win, and more than that that Canelo showed he was the better fighter and that I'd take him in the rematch. Maybe after I watch the fight a third time I can be ballsier with my p4p rating of him, lol.
Canelo also arguably lost 4 of his last 10 fights and hasn't beaten a ranked contender in over a year but that didn't stop him from cracking to your top5.
Name these 4 fights he,arguably lost? Lara was close but Lara gave the fight away in the second half he did nothing. Pbf legit loss. Ggg close fight that was a draw.
Aside from the clear loss to Floyd, It can be argued that he's 0-3 against GGG,Lara and Trout(as in, the same way It can be argued that GGG is 0-2 against him and Jacobs). That leaves you with 1 clear + 3 arguable losses in his last 10 fights.
I've held the Lara and Trout fights against him, but it should be evident he's improved and is now much more complete and smarter, and in his absolute prime.
I don't disagree, in fact I had him beating Trout by a point. I'm just pointing out that if GGG's close/controversial fights can be held against him in p4p discussions, the same should also go for Canelo.
With the KD, I agree. Similar to GGG/Jacobs, I gave 6 rds in piece to fighters in both of those fights.
Good question. I suggest: 1) Controversy. Ward-Kovalev I -> controversial decision. Ward-Kovalev II -> controversial ending, I'm guessing that we can all agree that it was an unsatisfying end at least. 2) Ward was considered already close to p4p #1, Rungvisai was hardly even known. That being said, I personally wouldn't put Kovalev quite as high as most others on this thread. If he looks good against Shabrannsky well then perhaps.
I thought he just edged the Trout fight, but I maintain Lara beat Canelo. That's the primary reason I've kept Canelo lower p4p than most and why I'm wary about throwing him too high even now. But that was a 23 year old four years ago. In his recent fights he's shown more diverse skills, and refined himself as a master counterpuncher. The skepticism that it was against smaller guys in Khan and Smith was fair, but now that he's looked good in an at least close fight with the big bad Golovkin we should have to accept he's clearly improved, and the Trout and Lara fights shouldn't be held against him as much as they used to. While Golovkin's close fights have been in the last year! And with what can be reasonably pointed to as his first steps up in opposition!