He’s gotten knockdowns recently but that’s about it. He’s not gotten a single KO since Plant. I don’t know if it’s due to the lack of snap on his punches nowadays or if he’s simply content with beating up the other guy for 12 rounds.
He reminds me a lot of Pac at Welter. Definitely can punch and can hurt and knock down guys but doesn't put em away.
Still a sharp puncher but isn’t as explosive anymore. He seems much more content in just going the full 12 rounds without pushing for the KO at this point.
They are both undersized compared to the guys they are fighting at the higher classes. Harder to get the stoppages.
Canelo never was a top puncher. Decent power, yes, looks impressive against glass jaws like Khan, Kirkland, Kovalev (but whose doesn't?) The best illustration of Canelo being far from elite puncher is his comparison with Pacquiao. Manny's power looked far more damaging against better versions of Cotto and Mosley, and it was in Manny's seventh weight class where he wasn't one-punch KO artist by any means
A part of I think is his stylistic change; he has pretty much abandoned combination punching, and instead just wings huge single shots which his opponents can largely see coming.
Remember that he comes in about 178-180lbs Bivol weighed 183 against him Benavidez came in at 185 at 168 Jermello was a career 154 GGG was a career 160 and was 40 y/o and a shell of himself Mung looked huge and so did Berlangy, much bigger than Bivol but they're obviously way below him in levels I suspect Clenelo might be off sauce
He started with that BS strategy consisting on hitting his oponent's arms too. I know this strategy is legit and widely used in the past but I just hate it, I don't think it is worth it in current boxing. Nevertheles, I think that the main reason is that he is not carrying his power when he goes up in weight. He's just too small. It was especially obvious vs Bivol. Canelo could hit bivol the whole night for free and as long as bivol has his guard up canelo will never hurt him.
I’ve always felt for him fo improve on his performance against Bivol, he’d have to return to the combination punching style he used more at 154 and in his earlier days at 160… which seems like something he’s basically given up… but what the heck do I know, and let’s be honest, what he’s been doing has worked well in most cases. I was in disbelief that he fought Bivol like he was going to bully him or walk him into one big shot, and even moreso that he continued to do it when Bivol showed no signs of either A. Wilting or being affected by him, or B. Losing discipline and opening himself up for a counter… Great fighter, great coach, couldn’t believe they went into a fight 20+lbs north of his natural weight with that game plan… and no adjustment. Also: Why doesn’t Canelo get the Lomachenko treatment? “He doesn’t look as good as he could because he’s fighting guys so much bigger!” The guy looks like a blowfish at 168 and up, and is dwarfed by most of his opponents. His speed and endurance have visibly taken a hit since he’s moved up, and obviously his ability to hurt guys per this thread…. I’m not saying he should or shouldn’t get the same treatment as Loma, just questioning why?
He literally caved BJS 2.0's face in with a single shot He shattered both of Juan Ryder's nostrils with a single shot He deformed Callum Smith's bicep He's dropped 5 of his last 7 but very tellingly he couldn't register a KD against Bivol and GGG at Eurasian level