The boxing world is now abuzz with the upcoming Canelo Alvarez-Jermell Charlo showdown penciled on Sept. 30, 2023 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
WBC middleweight title holder Charlo (35-1, 19KOs) seems like a man on a mission. Of his last six bouts, two were rematches which he won.
The first was against Tony Harrison who defeated him via unanimous decision in 2018. He avenged that the following year via stoppage. The second rematch was against Brian Carlos Castaño whom he stopped last year after both figured in a split draw in 2020. Is he ready for the great Saul Alvarez?
CANELO. The accomplished Alvarez is arguably in the Top 3 of most pound for pound lists. After losing to Dmitri Bivol in 2022, Alvarez won a crucial third bout against Gennady Golovkin, and early this year defeated John Ryder via stoppage.
This bout is going to be for the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO super middleweight diadems, a weight class where Canelo feels he is most comfortable at. Is he ready for Charlo’s challenge?
GIMME. Although Canelo is heavily favored, I believe this fight is what is called a “gimme” in boxing parlance. I am picking Canelo to win via decision, but this is a fight that could arguably go either way.
Canelo has the experience, the championship pedigree and the superior boxing skills. But I think he is already at his peak and might already be starting to decline, at age 33.
With 59 bouts, two losses and 39 via stoppage, the fight odometer reads high. All those high-profile fights, the wear and tear , the daily grind — all those take a toll on your body. Especially when you fight three grueling, brutal battles against someone like Golovkin.
I also thought the fight against Bivol showed some kinks in Canelo’s armor, something that Charlo could take advantage of.
In that fight, Bivol was able to masterfully use his height advantage and leverage his shots off of it. Charlo who stands six feet tall could very well do the same.
He has the hand speed to compete with Canelo and is quite adept in landing those sneaky power shots thrown with enough torque to knock out his opponents.
Make no mistake about it, in a long, drawn-out fight, Canelo has the edge. If he takes Charlo to deeper waters, he will win, but I am giving Charlo a decent chance of pulling off the upset.
VERBATIM. My whole life will be on the line and dedicated for that one moment on that one night, 36 minutes in the ring with Canelo Alvarez.” -- Jermell Charlo (via Fight News)
LAST ROUND. It’s on my bro, Atty. Ramsey Quijano. Happy 56th, bro! We are proud of you. Continue to be a source of inspiration for everyone.
Cheers!