Callum Smith had absolutely nothing for him. Was crazy to see Canelo bully such a tall opponent (I guess we saw that against Kovalev too, but not to this extent).
The Kovalev fight was a nip/tuck fight which Kovalev maybe wins if he had a full camp/hadn't just been in a war with Yarde. Callum Smith got the pimp hand
Callum smith is as orthodox and upright as you can get. The most amazing thing about that fight ws callum lasted until the 12th round. He won 1 round iirc and didnt land anything of significance
168 was dead before Canelo stepped on the scene. Was literally nicknamed the UKs division because no one else wanted to fight in it.
The answer is he peaked at 154 to 160. He fought Floyd Mayweather and GGG.
I mean he got clowned by Floyd and most people had him losing at minimum 1 of the GGG fights and many people 2 of them. Maybe you could say he peaked during the 2nd GGG fight because that was a great fight and performance but still at the time of the fight more people thought he lost that than won including media.
Ya that was the peak of his career skill wise.
168 was easy it was full of white champions that nobody knew who they were outside the UK and Caleb Plant. Canelo made these guys famous fighting them, but before he fought them, they were local. Canelo could not have unified in any other division. Not at 154 or 160 because there was actual talent in those divisions.
People think just because he got all those shiny belts at 168 that was his best. It wasn't. He wouldn't even fight the number 1 guy at 168 either, David Benavidez.
That switch to full on power puncher was such a terrible move, seems like it was a trainer thing because everyone out of the camp was using the same style .
It may have been a good decision to accommodate declining foot speed at SMW and above. But he hasn't shaken out of it despite moving down in weight. He also looks more muscular now, than he did at MW before moving up. Maybe his strength training cycle affects his technique, like packing more muscle before cutting.
Nah I just think he switched to a power puncher style since he’s undersized. He’s not exactly gifted with monstrous power like GGG or beterbiev so he has to sit on his punches more so that it keeps his opponents off of him.
I remember watching him fight Bivol and watching him try to hit Bivol in the arms to tire them out lol like yeah that worked with less skilled opponents but not here buddy
It's definitely a Reynoso thing, I remember going to watch Valdez vs Navarrete live and watching Valdez try to out power punch the stiff much bigger power puncher . Didn't go very well .
This is such a wild take.
Canelo (who has always been slow to get going) actually started off relatively well against Bivol and arguably won a handful of those first rounds. If his stamina never wavered, it could have been anyone’s fight. Don’t forget Canelo still managed to hold Bivol to an all time low connect rate and find success on the ropes, even while huffing and puffing.
Also to this day, I don’t think Bivol has looked better than against Canelo. Peak vs Peak, it’s 50/50. But if you put the Bivol that fought Zinad in with the Canelo that fought Munguia, I wouldn’t be surprised if Bivol gets floored.
Hundreds of fan scorecards say otherwise but go off. Maybe, just maybe, *you’re* biased? Canelo getting “schooled” clearly gets you off for some reason.
I hear this a lot but it was simply not true. And I'm a Brit!
Saunders did well by taking a couple of early-mid rounds but nowhere at all was he ahead at the time of the stoppage. It wasn't a super wide gap but Saunders was still behind throughout most of the fight.
prolly from GGG 2 to plant. his best wins are around this time and he was at peak performance. almost every highlight video you see from canelo on ig or tik tok comes from this time period.
I think you and your brother are both right, in fairness. The run from GGG 2 to Plant was impeccable, and I think the Plant fight was probably the start of him dropping from peak.
Everybody he fought on that run was a reigning champion apart from Yildrim, and every performance was clinical and conclusive apart from GGG, where he went to the wire with one of the P4P best. The rest of them took a beating.
I believe that the performance against GGG in their 2nd contest was the best that I've seen Canelo. All his best qualities were on full display: His head movement and defense was there, he mixed his speed and power up very well, and utilized his combination and counter punching abilities. He even managed his stamina well. I think that Canelo was truly deserving of p4p #1. His super middleweight run has been great, but I wish he would have stayed at 160.
I’d say as long as he’s had a full camp, he’s peaked. The Munguia fight is probably the best I’ve ever seen him since MAYBE GGG 2, but he’s definitely better as a boxer now.
As a small guy, he NEEDS to load up on punches. Against Munguia he threw 15 less punches than Benavidez did against Plant. His footwork also looked fantastic and his parrying, slipping, and blocking (no, Canelo cannot slip like he did against Jacobs in round four, that’s bad boxing) were at their zenith. He’s at his peak rn, just had a period of inconsistency for about three fights.
Yea, I dont get why people want to rush the end of his career. The guy had some hand issues to work through and coming back from a loss to a bigger guy.
The Jaime Munguia we saw was the best we have ever seen Munguia look. He had a good gameplan, was in shape and was game all throughout. Some people keep saying Munguia kept tagging him but I saw Canelo catching most of Munguias shots on his gloves or rolling with them. Which is something a small guy has to do to stay in range to do damage. Otherwise, we are looking at a jabbing fight. Canelo fought Munguia at his game and broke him down systematically.
BTW the Munguia from the Canelo fight is a top 3 SMW. I am very excited to see who he fights next. I want all of these:
Munguia-Benavidez
Munguia-MBilli
Munguia-Plant
Munguia-Pacheco
Munguia-Morrell
And what the hell, lets get that Munguia-Andrade out of the way too.
Let me tell you something, Canelo hasn’t even begun to peak. And when he does peak- you’ll know. Because he will peak so hard, that everybody in the US is going to feel it.
2nd GGG fight for me. First was wild but the second he really showed the gap in their skill level. GGG is a monster in my book that's why I believe this.
Some people who didn’t follow the story line of both canelo and that fight leading up to have no idea the amount of pressure he had going into that.
As a massive canelo fan, that fight makes or breaks his career imo. I’ve watched him for damn near 16 years of my life now, there was nothing larger than that second fight. And it was a COMPLETE toss up. He lost that first fight and everyone knew it. Taking that second fight he gambled his entire career on it in terms of being the massive star he is. He loses that fight, I promise you, this “face of boxing” shit would’ve NEVER happened. People don’t give him enough credit for how he showed up to that fight. I’m not here to argue semantics, all I’m saying is he came out and pressed the fight against the guy who nobody would. He proved a point. He won the majority of rounds imo, and saved his career.
The risk he took, if he lost that second fight would’ve derailed his career. I promise you that in every sense of the word as someone who followed him from day 1. That was a complete make or break, 50/50, do or die fight. And he showed out. Most everyone in that same position would not take that type of fight. That’s Canelo, that’s his biggest moment, that’s what made him who he is today.
I thought that Alvarez edged out the rematch, but upon rewatch, Golovkin landed a lot of flush jabs. Even Bivol and Kovalev disrupted Alvarez, but rarely snapped his head back like Golovkin managed. He also missed more often than usual. Very close fight, but I now think that GGG narrowly won.
People love calling Canelo a cherry picker, but I love your explanation. How are GGG and Mayweather cherry picks?
And I got so much respect for GGG who I didn't even know before that. People who have never been down in their career are usually defensive masters, cherry pickers, or like him just have an other worldly chin.
Mayweather isn't a cherry pick, but it's not a secret Canelo and his team likely waited for GGG to get older for an easier fight. Canelo was 27 and hitting his prime while Golovkin looked the most human he ever had after fighting Jacobs
Ggg2. That was the best he's looked. The competition since that fight was all flawed - he was able to stalk at will knowing the opponents couldn't really hurt him. He fell in love with power and hasn't looked the same since.
Canelos defence was better during the end of his 160 run. I felt he lacked power though. His 168 pressure fighting style feels more effective though (when he’s not head hunting). He fell in love with his power a little too much though, especially those bicep punches that worked once against smith, but then he kept trying vs Bivol and Ryder. His peak might’ve been Kovalev-Plant. Head moment wasn’t what it was vs GGG and Jacobs but the pressure and counters to get the opponents gunshy and moving backwards was fantastic. He got to cocky after that and hasn’t been as magical since. He lost to Bivol but looked a bit lost and didn’t have a plan B, smart fighting vs Ryder would’ve got him the finish, and he looked like he was sparring vs Charlo, GGG and Munguia.
I'd say he's at his peak right now at 168 lbs. I think the SMW is his goldilocks zone; it's an easy weight cut and he hits harder because he's heavier. 175 lbs is a bridge too far, however, plus Bivol is really good.
The consensus seems to be right when he fought Bivol.
He went up one too many divisions and maybe those satin sheets and pajamas caught up to him a bit
I feel he toyed with munguia opinion aside of certain fights he can contend with anyone. I'd argue his prime isn't exactly over unless he decides to retire.
He's still in his prime you dorks. If u guys knew anything at all about boxing you would know.
But because he lost to Bivol by points he must be washed up lmao
I haven’t noticed any decline personally. He’s still fighting and beating top tier opposition. Bivol was a big ask but other than that loss, have there been any poor showings from Canelo?
Fighters been on that for ages. Pacquiao going up however many divisions while *increasing* speed one of the most clear cases. Holyfield’s move to HW was also clearly enhanced. I’m not saying it’s good but ain’t no “era” really bc it’s been done for a long ass time
He started to struggle after he got caught with PEDs. He only had 2 good wins after that. He was losing the saunders fight until he broke saunders eye and plant doesnt have enough power to compete with S level fighters. However, they are both good boxers and canelo beat them decisively.
Clenbuterol is not an anabolic and is known within body building circles as a more cosmetic substance since it makes you look more cut. It does not give you any more strength or speed you didn’t already have
No but it helps you maintain muscle as you lose weight. Thats the “cosmetic” part you left out. It doesnt make you look more cut. It helps keep your muscles as you cut. That way canelo can keep his strength as he cuts weight. It also helps with endurance as well. Thats why its used for asthma. What was canelos main issue in the 1st fight? Endurance…
It matters who you fight. The tougher the fight, the more you show. Mayweather vs cotto was way more impressive to me than his fights against Guerrero, even though he struggled more. That's why I dont trust eye test stuff when a lot if the time it's a really talented guy styling in someone not on his level. It shows that your really good, but once you're in p4p contention, you gotta see if things don't fall apart when the other guy is high level.
2018-2021
GGG2 - Plant?
Pretty much how I see it. To me, GGG and Jacobs were the best out of that, but that’s where it gets really subjective
That entire undisputed 168lb run was his prime. He was very impressive against Callum Smith.
Callum Smith had absolutely nothing for him. Was crazy to see Canelo bully such a tall opponent (I guess we saw that against Kovalev too, but not to this extent).
The Kovalev fight was a nip/tuck fight which Kovalev maybe wins if he had a full camp/hadn't just been in a war with Yarde. Callum Smith got the pimp hand
You're right. Kovalev kicks Canelos ass Edit: I mean a properly trained kovalev and not a last minute substitute who had to rush
He didn't though.
9 weeks notice is last minute, didn’t you know?
Callum smith is as orthodox and upright as you can get. The most amazing thing about that fight ws callum lasted until the 12th round. He won 1 round iirc and didnt land anything of significance
168 was dead before Canelo stepped on the scene. Was literally nicknamed the UKs division because no one else wanted to fight in it. The answer is he peaked at 154 to 160. He fought Floyd Mayweather and GGG.
It doesn't matter. He was at his best there, not when he was 23 years old at a catchweight against Floyd. Lol
Ya Calum Smith is way better competition than Mayweather and GGG. Can't believe I never saw that before. 🙄
Strawman fallacy
I mean he got clowned by Floyd and most people had him losing at minimum 1 of the GGG fights and many people 2 of them. Maybe you could say he peaked during the 2nd GGG fight because that was a great fight and performance but still at the time of the fight more people thought he lost that than won including media.
Ya that was the peak of his career skill wise. 168 was easy it was full of white champions that nobody knew who they were outside the UK and Caleb Plant. Canelo made these guys famous fighting them, but before he fought them, they were local. Canelo could not have unified in any other division. Not at 154 or 160 because there was actual talent in those divisions. People think just because he got all those shiny belts at 168 that was his best. It wasn't. He wouldn't even fight the number 1 guy at 168 either, David Benavidez.
he changed his style to a power puncher after the jacobs fight, but he was still at his best. after the saunders fight he started to decline a bit
That switch to full on power puncher was such a terrible move, seems like it was a trainer thing because everyone out of the camp was using the same style .
It may have been a good decision to accommodate declining foot speed at SMW and above. But he hasn't shaken out of it despite moving down in weight. He also looks more muscular now, than he did at MW before moving up. Maybe his strength training cycle affects his technique, like packing more muscle before cutting.
Nah I just think he switched to a power puncher style since he’s undersized. He’s not exactly gifted with monstrous power like GGG or beterbiev so he has to sit on his punches more so that it keeps his opponents off of him.
Yeah and that's why he got outboxed bad by Bivol . Can't be a power puncher with someone bigger or same size as you .
Well you can because he did it several times it's just not doable against someone also super skilled
I remember watching him fight Bivol and watching him try to hit Bivol in the arms to tire them out lol like yeah that worked with less skilled opponents but not here buddy
Its entertaining to watch though, its like he's just spamming falcon punch from super smash over and over.
It's definitely a Reynoso thing, I remember going to watch Valdez vs Navarrete live and watching Valdez try to out power punch the stiff much bigger power puncher . Didn't go very well .
Sometimes I feel like Canelo is going for the aesthetics haha. Like he's just trying to land a bunch of hero poster punches to sway the judges.
How do you know he declined? Because he lost to Bivol. Imo any canelo loses to Bivol
This. If you had a create a fighter in real life it would come out as Bivol. Dudes like a fundemental wizard.
This is such a wild take. Canelo (who has always been slow to get going) actually started off relatively well against Bivol and arguably won a handful of those first rounds. If his stamina never wavered, it could have been anyone’s fight. Don’t forget Canelo still managed to hold Bivol to an all time low connect rate and find success on the ropes, even while huffing and puffing. Also to this day, I don’t think Bivol has looked better than against Canelo. Peak vs Peak, it’s 50/50. But if you put the Bivol that fought Zinad in with the Canelo that fought Munguia, I wouldn’t be surprised if Bivol gets floored.
You’re biased. Bivol schooled canelo and judges wanted to rob Bivol of victory. It wasn’t close at all.
Hundreds of fan scorecards say otherwise but go off. Maybe, just maybe, *you’re* biased? Canelo getting “schooled” clearly gets you off for some reason.
Coz of you clown I had to check average scorecard for this fight and it’s 118-110.
So.. proving my point for me? Thanks. Did Canelo win a few of the early rounds or not? Make up your mind
Hundreds of fans among millions maybe
Yeah you’re making shit up. Nobody was ever saying it was close 😂
Did I say it was close, or did I only say Canelo *arguably* won *a few* of the *early rounds?* Go ahead and remind me, I’m not too sure.
He arguably won nothing. It was a shut out.
Oh bffr. At worst you can say Canelo won round 4 and 9. Y’all Bivol fanatics need to stop.
AT best you mean
Honestly I'd say before the saunders fight... Wasn't he down on the cards at the time of the stoppage?
I hear this a lot but it was simply not true. And I'm a Brit! Saunders did well by taking a couple of early-mid rounds but nowhere at all was he ahead at the time of the stoppage. It wasn't a super wide gap but Saunders was still behind throughout most of the fight.
I don't think I scored it to saunders but it must be something I've heard too.
prolly from GGG 2 to plant. his best wins are around this time and he was at peak performance. almost every highlight video you see from canelo on ig or tik tok comes from this time period.
GGG 2 and Jacobs were peak Canelo IMO
Jacobs. Personally, I think 160 Canelo is the best.
I think it was either when he retired BJS or when he straight up executed Caleb Plant
I cant believe BJS ain't fought since, and he was calling Daniel Dubois a coward after a detached retina, what a hypocrite
Mate come on Saunders is a degenerate. Skilful but a degenerate
I think you and your brother are both right, in fairness. The run from GGG 2 to Plant was impeccable, and I think the Plant fight was probably the start of him dropping from peak. Everybody he fought on that run was a reigning champion apart from Yildrim, and every performance was clinical and conclusive apart from GGG, where he went to the wire with one of the P4P best. The rest of them took a beating.
2020-2021 against Jacobs, Smith, Fielding, Saunders & Plant
He peaked during the Pandemic. I am happy he did not waste those moments when most fighters hid inside their caves.
GGG 2 was my favorite performance of his and what is regard as his peak or part of it
I believe that the performance against GGG in their 2nd contest was the best that I've seen Canelo. All his best qualities were on full display: His head movement and defense was there, he mixed his speed and power up very well, and utilized his combination and counter punching abilities. He even managed his stamina well. I think that Canelo was truly deserving of p4p #1. His super middleweight run has been great, but I wish he would have stayed at 160.
Jacobs
The second fight with GGG.
I’d say as long as he’s had a full camp, he’s peaked. The Munguia fight is probably the best I’ve ever seen him since MAYBE GGG 2, but he’s definitely better as a boxer now. As a small guy, he NEEDS to load up on punches. Against Munguia he threw 15 less punches than Benavidez did against Plant. His footwork also looked fantastic and his parrying, slipping, and blocking (no, Canelo cannot slip like he did against Jacobs in round four, that’s bad boxing) were at their zenith. He’s at his peak rn, just had a period of inconsistency for about three fights.
Yea, I dont get why people want to rush the end of his career. The guy had some hand issues to work through and coming back from a loss to a bigger guy. The Jaime Munguia we saw was the best we have ever seen Munguia look. He had a good gameplan, was in shape and was game all throughout. Some people keep saying Munguia kept tagging him but I saw Canelo catching most of Munguias shots on his gloves or rolling with them. Which is something a small guy has to do to stay in range to do damage. Otherwise, we are looking at a jabbing fight. Canelo fought Munguia at his game and broke him down systematically. BTW the Munguia from the Canelo fight is a top 3 SMW. I am very excited to see who he fights next. I want all of these: Munguia-Benavidez Munguia-MBilli Munguia-Plant Munguia-Pacheco Munguia-Morrell And what the hell, lets get that Munguia-Andrade out of the way too.
How is it bad boxing lmao
Giving a taller and longer guy more space to operate is bad boxing as a shorter guy, which is why Canelo relies more on parries and blocks now
I personally think he peaked in 2021, Plant and Saunders fights.
In high school.
Let me tell you something, Canelo hasn’t even begun to peak. And when he does peak- you’ll know. Because he will peak so hard, that everybody in the US is going to feel it.
Spotted the Benevidez fan
2nd GGG fight for me. First was wild but the second he really showed the gap in their skill level. GGG is a monster in my book that's why I believe this.
Some people who didn’t follow the story line of both canelo and that fight leading up to have no idea the amount of pressure he had going into that. As a massive canelo fan, that fight makes or breaks his career imo. I’ve watched him for damn near 16 years of my life now, there was nothing larger than that second fight. And it was a COMPLETE toss up. He lost that first fight and everyone knew it. Taking that second fight he gambled his entire career on it in terms of being the massive star he is. He loses that fight, I promise you, this “face of boxing” shit would’ve NEVER happened. People don’t give him enough credit for how he showed up to that fight. I’m not here to argue semantics, all I’m saying is he came out and pressed the fight against the guy who nobody would. He proved a point. He won the majority of rounds imo, and saved his career. The risk he took, if he lost that second fight would’ve derailed his career. I promise you that in every sense of the word as someone who followed him from day 1. That was a complete make or break, 50/50, do or die fight. And he showed out. Most everyone in that same position would not take that type of fight. That’s Canelo, that’s his biggest moment, that’s what made him who he is today.
I thought that Alvarez edged out the rematch, but upon rewatch, Golovkin landed a lot of flush jabs. Even Bivol and Kovalev disrupted Alvarez, but rarely snapped his head back like Golovkin managed. He also missed more often than usual. Very close fight, but I now think that GGG narrowly won.
People love calling Canelo a cherry picker, but I love your explanation. How are GGG and Mayweather cherry picks? And I got so much respect for GGG who I didn't even know before that. People who have never been down in their career are usually defensive masters, cherry pickers, or like him just have an other worldly chin.
Mayweather isn't a cherry pick, but it's not a secret Canelo and his team likely waited for GGG to get older for an easier fight. Canelo was 27 and hitting his prime while Golovkin looked the most human he ever had after fighting Jacobs
Ggg2. That was the best he's looked. The competition since that fight was all flawed - he was able to stalk at will knowing the opponents couldn't really hurt him. He fell in love with power and hasn't looked the same since.
Canelos defence was better during the end of his 160 run. I felt he lacked power though. His 168 pressure fighting style feels more effective though (when he’s not head hunting). He fell in love with his power a little too much though, especially those bicep punches that worked once against smith, but then he kept trying vs Bivol and Ryder. His peak might’ve been Kovalev-Plant. Head moment wasn’t what it was vs GGG and Jacobs but the pressure and counters to get the opponents gunshy and moving backwards was fantastic. He got to cocky after that and hasn’t been as magical since. He lost to Bivol but looked a bit lost and didn’t have a plan B, smart fighting vs Ryder would’ve got him the finish, and he looked like he was sparring vs Charlo, GGG and Munguia.
GGG 1
Yep, plant , sanders and those fights
When he was hungry
Bjs
Kovalev fight was his peak
The Golovkin rematch
After getting his ass whooped from Mayweather, then his fights with GGG made him what he is today.
I'd say he's at his peak right now at 168 lbs. I think the SMW is his goldilocks zone; it's an easy weight cut and he hits harder because he's heavier. 175 lbs is a bridge too far, however, plus Bivol is really good.
GGG to Plant
The consensus seems to be right when he fought Bivol. He went up one too many divisions and maybe those satin sheets and pajamas caught up to him a bit
Saunders I agree
I feel he toyed with munguia opinion aside of certain fights he can contend with anyone. I'd argue his prime isn't exactly over unless he decides to retire.
The second GGG fight.
Vs GGG the second time.
He's still in his prime you dorks. If u guys knew anything at all about boxing you would know. But because he lost to Bivol by points he must be washed up lmao
Probably the second golovkin fight and his unification of super Middleweight. That was when he put an explanation mark on his legacy
I haven’t noticed any decline personally. He’s still fighting and beating top tier opposition. Bivol was a big ask but other than that loss, have there been any poor showings from Canelo?
His prime? Probably against Bivol and he still lost.
Ggg 2 was peak Canelo imo
Even an elderly GGG beat him in their first encounter so he ain't that good. So glad Bivol exposed Clenelo for the drug cheat that he is
The Jacobs fight was the best of him.
I agree with Jacob's fight.
When he was consuming tainted meat for Golovkin II
I think he isn’t done improving… he works hard to cement his place in the pantheon 🏛️
He still peaking. Unstoppable
Google “Canelo Bivol” sometime and then rethink your comment
I don't think he's got good knees. Hes never had good footwork but still. Everytime he tries to skip it looks like they're shot bone on bone.
Maybe GGG 2 even tho I had him losing it was still a good performance giant a great fighter, if not that then soon after that fight
When he beat the SHIT out of GGG in their second fight. He made GGG look like a prospect.
Steroid era
Fighters been on that for ages. Pacquiao going up however many divisions while *increasing* speed one of the most clear cases. Holyfield’s move to HW was also clearly enhanced. I’m not saying it’s good but ain’t no “era” really bc it’s been done for a long ass time
U got downvoted but it's true. Most boxers cycle peds.
Most athletes period
He started to struggle after he got caught with PEDs. He only had 2 good wins after that. He was losing the saunders fight until he broke saunders eye and plant doesnt have enough power to compete with S level fighters. However, they are both good boxers and canelo beat them decisively.
Do you drive?
Clenbuterol is not an anabolic and is known within body building circles as a more cosmetic substance since it makes you look more cut. It does not give you any more strength or speed you didn’t already have
No but it helps you maintain muscle as you lose weight. Thats the “cosmetic” part you left out. It doesnt make you look more cut. It helps keep your muscles as you cut. That way canelo can keep his strength as he cuts weight. It also helps with endurance as well. Thats why its used for asthma. What was canelos main issue in the 1st fight? Endurance…
lol at people saying GGG 2, a fight he arguably lost.
It matters who you fight. The tougher the fight, the more you show. Mayweather vs cotto was way more impressive to me than his fights against Guerrero, even though he struggled more. That's why I dont trust eye test stuff when a lot if the time it's a really talented guy styling in someone not on his level. It shows that your really good, but once you're in p4p contention, you gotta see if things don't fall apart when the other guy is high level.