Quijano: Sometimes, Rocky loses

SAUL ALVAREZ looked pretty impressive in dismantling Rocky Fielding last Sunday. In the process, he picked up the latter’s WBA super-middleweight belt, making him a champion in three weight classes.

THE FIGHT. Usually the taller fighter in the ring is presumably deemed to have the advantage, but that is actually a sweeping generalization.

Assuming all other things to be equal, the taller fighter could potentially have the advantage if he knows how to utilize his superior reach and leverage.

If he does not, or if he lacks the requisite speed, power and skill to fight effectively, that advantage is negated. On the contrary, it turns into a disadvantage because a slower, bigger fighter turns into nothing but a bigger target.

Which is what happened in this fight.

Not to disparage Rocky who fought courageously and is so well-liked in his native UK—he just didn’t have the skill set to match up with an elite fighter like Alvarez.

In the first round, Canelo stalked him and landed some jabs and body shots. Rocky did his best to ward him off with jabs and straights, but his shots lacked the torque to deter the Mexican’s aggressive forays.

In the first round, one of those body shots landed clean and caused Rocky to momentarily take a knee. He stood up and courageously fought back, but in the second round, another body shot found its mark, causing another knockdown. You just knew it was downhill from there.

Canelo continued pushing a frenetic pace, and in the third, knocked down Rocky two more times, causing the referee to mercifully call for the denouement of the match.

NEXT. It was a one-sided fight, clearly meant to showcase Canelo’s talents against a handpicked opponent.

While of itself, the move to a higher division to defeat another champion is noteworthy, we all know Rocky is not the man to beat at the 168 pound weight class and Canelo is apparently keen on going back to the middleweight division, which would make him nothing but a super-middleweight interloper.

As to what happens next is anybody’s guess, but I’m hoping he stays so he can square off against the likes of Callum Smith and George Groves, all Rocky Fielding’s compatriots.

LAST ROUND. It’s on Christianna Rei Yap-Guttierez who recently celebrated her birthday. Cheers!

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