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Boxing top 10 pound-for-pound list: Loma leads the way

By Matthew Saljanin

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 09: Vasiliy Lomachenko celebrates his Junior Lightweight bout victory over Guillermo Rigondeaux at Madison Square Garden on December 9, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 09: Vasiliy Lomachenko celebrates his Junior Lightweight bout victory over Guillermo Rigondeaux at Madison Square Garden on December 9, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /
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Canelo Alvarez, Gennady Golovkin
LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 28: Canelo Alvarez prepares to jump rope during a media workout at L.A. Live’s Microsoft Square on August 28, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

6. Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez

Record: 49-1-2, 34 KOs

While I am aware Canelo is currently facing a suspension from the Nevada Athletic Commission, that suspension will end later this month. Additionally, he has a fight signed for September, and it will be taking place in Las Vegas, so I feel it is unnecessary to remove him from the rankings at this point in time.

Canelo is without a doubt the most polarizing fighter on this list. The biggest PPV star on this side of the pond, Canelo has had his fair share of controversy recently.

After two failed tests for the banned substance clenbuterol, many fans have labeled him a drug cheat. Despite his claim of the failed tests being due to eating contaminated beef (and with a good amount of evidence appearing to support that claim), many fans do not want to hear it.

In an attempt to further prove his innocence, Canelo has enrolled in VADA’s 24/7/365 drug testing program, which frankly should be mandated by all fighters.

Controversy aside, Canelo is one of the best fighters in the sport. He is an excellent counter puncher, and despite what some may say, he has a very impressive resume. With notable victories over Shane Mosley, Austin Trout, Erislandy Lara, Miguel Cotto and Amir Khan, among others, Canelo has continued to fight big named opponents.

His first fight at the middleweight limit was against Golovkin in September of 2017, and he looked great. It appeared his power carried well to the new division, as his punches had pop on them.

He isn’t known as a devastating power-puncher, but he has highlight-reel knockouts over both James Kirkland and Khan.

It will be interesting to see how his punching power fares against other middleweights, as no one in the sport has a chin like Golovkin. Canelo’s only (official) loss on his record is to the all-time great Floyd Mayweather when he was at the age of 23.

Losing to Floyd is nothing to be ashamed of for anyone, let alone a 23-year-old. There is a reason Canelo is so popular, and it is because behind all of the hype, there is a very good fighter.

Next fight: The previously mentioned rematch with GGG, on Sept. 16. It will be very interesting to see how Canelo looks after being enrolled in 24/7/365 testing.

If he was always a clean fighter, like he says, he will be fine. However, if he was actually cheating, his performance figures to decline now that he would be clean.

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