Insights on Canelo Alvarez’s Fighting Style
In an analysis regarding Canelo Alvarez‘s upcoming fight against Terence Crawford, Abel Sanchez, the former coach of Gennadiy Golovkin, provided valuable insights into Alvarez’s fighting style. Sanchez, who has faced Canelo in the ring during two notable bouts in 2017 and 2018, expressed his belief that the famed Mexican boxer tends to explore his opponents’ techniques and convert the latter parts of his fights into practice-like scenarios.
Quotes from Abel Sanchez
Speaking with World Boxing News prior to the September matchup in Las Vegas—a highly anticipated event reminiscent of Canelo’s legendary encounters with Golovkin—Sanchez stated,
“Canelo is the only current champion that I see making dramatic changes to his style and his approach to each round and fight.”
This adaptability allows Alvarez to manage fights effectively, especially during the latter rounds.
Analysis of Canelo’s Last Fight
Sanchez pointed to Canelo’s last performance against William Scull, which was marked as one of the least active fights in history. He noted that the lack of action should not be blamed solely on Alvarez, explaining,
“You can’t make somebody fight that is determined not to get knocked out. In this case, Canelo doesn’t have the burden to make Scull defend his belt; Canelo’s job is to keep his.”
He lamented that many contemporary boxers seem preoccupied with maintaining their undefeated record instead of focusing on building a significant legacy.
Canelo vs. Crawford: Size and Experience
As Canelo prepares to face Crawford, who moves up two weight classes to challenge him at super middleweight, Sanchez addressed the implications of this shift. He emphasized that Canelo’s experience and ring intelligence put him as a clear frontrunner despite Crawford’s potential. Previously, Crawford weighed in at 186 pounds before starting his training camp, showcasing his significant size going into this bout.
The Toll of Tough Fights
Furthermore, reflecting on the recently concluded trilogy with Golovkin, Sanchez commented on the toll that tough fights can take, stating,
“I think that all tough fights take something away, but they also leave something: knowledge, experience, grit, and the understanding of what it takes to stay at the top.”
He questioned the necessity of the current matchup between Canelo and Crawford, suggesting that both fighters have other compelling challenges within their respective weight classes.
Potential Outcomes
Despite this, a victory for Crawford would undoubtedly surprise the boxing community, given Canelo’s history of only suffering losses against Floyd Mayweather and Dmitry Bivol.
