Fansided

Pound for pound list as of November 2018: Loma still on top

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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LAS VEGAS, NV – SEPTEMBER 15: Canelo Alvarez celebrates after his majority decision win over Gennady Golovkin during their WBC/WBA middleweight title fight at T-Mobile Arena on September 15, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – SEPTEMBER 15: Canelo Alvarez celebrates after his majority decision win over Gennady Golovkin during their WBC/WBA middleweight title fight at T-Mobile Arena on September 15, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

3. Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez

50-1-2, 34 KOs

Previous Ranking: 6

Fans were quick to hate on Canelo just a few months ago. Between some claiming he waited for GGG to get old, earning a draw against GGG when most felt he lost, and then failing a drug test before the GGG rematch, many were beginning to get annoyed with the face of boxing.

However, this September, Canelo put on a performance for the ages and was able to quiet all of the doubters. Golovkin’s trainer Abel Sanchez had been claiming Canelo ran in their first fight (which is an absurd claim), and that he was not fighting “Mexican Style.” Wanting to give the fans even more fireworks in the rematch, Sanchez had asked Canelo to stand and trade with GGG, something he undoubtedly wishes he never said.

In what will be remembered as a classic middleweight brawl, Canelo took the fight to GGG, standing toe to toe and fighting Mexican Style, something Golovkin and his team had been asking for. He pressed the action, and did so with a knee that was clearly less than 100 percent.

Of course, GGG himself is an elite fighter and was able to come back from a slow start, making it close on the scorecards, with some feeling he did enough to win. However, Canelo was awarded a majority decision, and this time with no controversy. It was a close fight that could have went Golovkin’s way, but there was not a bad score and no robbery.

Behind all of the Golden Boy hype, Canelo is a truly elite fighter. He has world class skills and the resume to back it. He is just entering the prime of his career, and would likely be the favorite over anyone he would fight anytime soon.

Following the GGG win, Canelo has opted to move up tp super-middleweight and challenge WBA “regular” champion Rocky Fielding, who is relatively unknown. If Canelo and GGG never make a trilogy, Canelo will still be involved in some huge fights. He is the face of boxing, and is coming off of his most impressive performance to date. Love him or hate him, he is here to stay.

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