Fansided

A look at Canelo Alvarez’s career-defining moments

By Matthew Saljanin

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 02: Canelo Alvarez celebrates his victory over Sergey Kovalev after their WBO light heavyweight title fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena on November 2, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Alvarez won with an 11th-round knockout. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 02: Canelo Alvarez celebrates his victory over Sergey Kovalev after their WBO light heavyweight title fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena on November 2, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Alvarez won with an 11th-round knockout. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images) /
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Canelo Alvarez v Sergey Kovalev
Canelo Alvarez (R) sends Sergey Kovalev into the ropes. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Canelo Alvarez vs Kovalev (November 2, 2019)

Canelo, as most popular athletes, has his fair share of haters. When you are at the top of your sport, people will always try to bring you down.

Whether it be the failed drug tests, or controversial decisions that always seem to go his way, those who dislike Canelo always had ammo to use against him.

Following the second fight with Golovkin, fans did not dispute the decision, but tho who had jumped ship, were not back on board just yet. They were still turned off by the failed tests, and that close decisions seemed to always go his way.

That is why this fight was so important for him, this was the fight that even Canelo’s biggest critics had to respect.

Moving up two weight classes is very difficult to do, no matter what level of opponent you face when you get up there. Facing a champion in your first fight at this new division? A tall task indeed,  just look at how poorly Mikey Garcia performed against Errol Spence Jr.

So when Canelo announced that he would be moving up two divisions to face champion Sergey Kovalev, many felt he had bit off more than he could chew. Kovalev was not far removed from being one of the most avoided men in boxing. He still possessed one of the best jabs in the sport, to go with a reach advantage over Canelo, and devastating power.

Many felt there was a real risk that Canelo could lose this fight, and he was applauded by all for taking the challenge.

Despite getting outboxed and out jabbed for the majority of the fight, Canelo continually came forward, and never looked worried. He was patient, as if he knew he just needed one moment to change the fight.

That moment came in the 11th round, where Canelo unloaded on Kovalev, leaving him limp on the ropes, and forcing the ref to stop the fight. It was truly a remarkable performance from Canelo, and one that is in the opinion of most, the best win of his career so far, and perfectly sums up why he is FanSided’s No. 1 fighter, pound-for-pound.

Aside from the ageless Manny Pacquiao, there is no active fighter with the resume of Canelo, the man fights everyone. In an age where fighters and fans are obsessed with staying undefeated, it is truly refreshing to see someone go out and actively try to be great.

Almost no all time great fighters retire undefeated. To get to that level, you must fight the best opponents of your era, and when you are constantly fighting the best opponents, you are bound to take a loss, or come close to it.

Canelo is not flawless, he has had his share of controversy both in and out of the ring, but should be praised for almost always taking on the best fighters of his era.

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