1) Saunders gave Canelo far more problems. There were times in that fight, particularly just before the fight ending punch, where Saunders legitimately looked to be taking control. At no point did Plant have control of this fight, he was pushed back, pressured and allowed a few bursts of ineffective shoe shining. Even if Plant stole one or two rounds Canelo was always in control and never in any trouble in this fight. 2) Canelo's elusive head movement was not on display and is used far less when he's on the front foot. Canelo opted for a high guard, pressure style approach for this fight. On the few occasions he went on the back foot he showed good head movement but you need very fast feet to do it on the front foot against taller opponents. Not many can do what Mike Tyson could. 3) Late in the fight, I think it was round 10, Plant chose to throw two 8 punch straight shot combos at the end of the round because he'd been beat up the whole round. While few of these shots got through they gave Canelo something to think about and these are a lot like the type of combinations Benavidez throws all night. Banavidez is clearly a tougher and better fighter than Plant in my opinion, perhaps an inch or two bigger as well and the approach Canelo took in this fight of cutting the ring off with a high guard will be far harder to pull off vs. Benavidez. Fair play to Plant and I'm not hating but I just feel he's a good solid Algieri level pro with good dedication and work ethic.
I don't agree on Saunders - I remember watching that live and feeling like there was an air of inevitability because Saunders obviously didn't like the big bodyshots - and while I had it fairly close going in to what would have been the 8th, at no point did I feel that Canelo wasn't controlling the fight - BJS did very litttle to get Canelo's respect and - like Plant - was shoeshining a lot, and not active anywhere near enough. My 2c
I disagree your Saunders analysis. Saunders barely won two rounds. (Round 6-7) Canelo never lost the control of the fight. Canelo started to round 8 very well and would win by UD if the breaker punch never happened.
There was a certain flatness overall, and a certain "why should I even bother" in Canelo's defense last night. He broke out the anticipation and head movement here and there but was clearly fatigued from the schedule he's kept over the last twelve months. He might have had some real issues with Benavidez last night, I'm hoping we get to see that fight next. DB is still improving and developing so Canelo can't just watch film and know what he's going to get like he could with Plant and Saunders.
Fair one but if you watch I felt if you watch both fights the way Saunders was slipping and contering Canelo was a bit reminiscent at times of the Lara and Trout fights. Plant wasn't the easiest opponent but I only really felt the 3rd round was a clear one he won with 1 or 2 close but even those rounds Canelo was getting the body shots off and breaking him down.
Yah glad you said it because I didn't want to include that in case people felt I was hating Canelo or Plant but there was a flatness there in Canelo. Don't get me wrong he cut the ring off brilliantly but that wouldn't have worked vs. Benavidez last night in my opinion.
Canelo who showed up against BJS was a much better version. Canelo was complicit last night. He's lucky Plant didn't have anything more in his armoury or it would have been a ROUGH night.
