Greatness is achieved step by painstaking step over a substantial period of time.
Few get there. And those who do can generally point to defining victories that served as those rare stepping stones that lead directly to the International Boxing Hall of Fame. All great fighters have that in common.
With that in mind, Boxing Junkie is initiating an occasional series called “Building Greatness,” in which we select a special fighter and provide five stepping-stone victories that demonstrated his greatest.
Our subject this week: Superstar Canelo Alvarez, who has become one of the greatest Mexican warriors of all time and probably the most-marketable non-heavyweight fighter in the world.
Here are five fights that helped define him:
AUSTIN TROUT
Date / site: April 20, 2013 / Alamodome, San Antonio
Division: Junior middleweight
Records: Alvarez 41-0-1; Trout 26-0
At stake: Title unification
Result: Alvarez UD 12 (118-109, 115-112, 116-111)
Background: This was Alvarez’s first significant challenge, unless you count a past-his-prime Shane Mosley two fights earlier. We don’t. Trout, 27, was an excellent all-around fighter at the peak of his abilities. Only four-plus months earlier he had made a big statement by easily outpointing future Hall of Famer Miguel Cotto, an ominous sign for any opponent. And Alvarez was only 23. Well, the young Mexican, motivated by the fact Trout had beaten his brother Rigoberto to win the title, passed the test. Alvarez wasn’t as active as Trout but, boxing cleverly and economically, he made the most of his output in an entertaining fight. He landed 43 percent of his power shots, which is particularly impressive given Trout’s ability. Alvarez proved he could beat an elite opponent in his prime. “This is for my brother,” Alvarez said.
***
ERISLANDY LARA
Date / site: July 12, 2014 / MGM Grand, Las Vegas
Division: 155-pound catch weight
Records: Alvarez 43-1-1; Lara 19-1-2
At stake: Nothing
Result: Alvarez SD 12 (117-111, 115-113, 113-115)
Background: Members of Alvarez’s team reportedly didn’t want this fight. He had lost badly to Floyd Mayweather 10 months earlier, a crazy 114-114 score aside. Lara was no Mayweather but his southpaw stance combined with unusual skills honed in the Cuban amateur system made life extremely difficult for his opponents. Still, Alvarez, obviously inspired by a challenge, demanded the fight and it was made. It wasn’t easy. Alvarez accused Lara of running; Lara would call it boxing. Either way, the rising Mexican star had trouble landing punches cleanly. He connected on only 23% of his shots. At the same time, he kept the pressure on Lara and was able to cut off the ring enough to win rounds. In the end, he escaped with a majority-decision victory that helped erase memories of the Mayweather fight. “I came to fight,” Alvarez said. “I didn’t come to run. You don’t win by running. You win by hitting.”
***
GENNADIY GOLOVKIN II
Date / site: Dec. 6, 2008 / MGM Grand, Las Vegas
Division: Middleweight
Records: Alvarez 49-1-2; Golovkin 38-0-1
At stake: Golovkin’s titles
Result: Alvarez MD 12 (115-113, 115-113, 114-114)
Background: The first Alvarez-Golovkin fight, which ended in a split draw, left a bad taste in the mouths of both fans and pundits who were convinced that Triple-G was robbed. Adalaide Byrd’s 118-110 score for Alvarez will live on in infamy. In other words, Alvarez had a lot to prove in the rematch. And he went after it, keeping pressure on his arch rival and often backing him up. Triple-G scored consistently with his formidable jab and was busier but Alvarez was more accurate with his punches and landed the more telling blows. In the end, we had another fight that could’ve gone either way. This time, Alvarez received the nod. And cries of foul play weren’t as vociferous. Alvarez demonstrated that he could make adjustments from one fight to the next and rise to the occasion. “He was the one who was backing up,” Alvarez said. “I feel satisfied because I gave a great fight. It was a clear victory.”
***
DANNY JACOBS
Date / site: May 4, 2019 / T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
Division: Middleweight
Records: Alvarez 51-1-2; Jacobs 35-2
At stake: Title unification
Result: Alvarez UD 12 (116-112, 115-113, 115-113)
Background: Alvarez had still not beaten an elite middleweight convincingly going into this fight. Yes, he rebounded from the controversial draw with Golovkin to win the rematch but doubts remained. Against Jacobs, Alvarez faced a big, strong, accomplished 160-pounder who had given Triple-G problems in defeat a few years earlier. This was a challenge. And, again, Alvarez overcame it. He had to work hard in a give-and-take fight but he gave an excellent all-around performance, combining accurate punching with his improving defensive skills to win the majority of rounds and the fight. Alvarez certainly didn’t dominate Jacobs but he demonstrated that even a well-schooled bigger man couldn’t beat him. “It was just what we thought,” Alvarez said. “We knew he was going to be a difficult fighter, but thank god we did things the right way.”
***
SERGEY KOVALEV
Date / site: Nov. 2, 2019
Division: Light heavyweight
Records: Alvarez 49-1-2; Kovalev 34-3-1
At stake: Kovalev’s title
Result: Alvarez KO 11
Background: Yes, Kovalev had more trouble with relative novice Anthony Yarde than he should have in his previous fight. And, yes, he probably was in decline to some degree at 36. Still, it was a risk for Alvarez to move up two weight classes and take on the Russian. Kovalev at 70 percent was still a good fighter. And he was natural light heavyweight with light heavyweight power. Kovalev held his own for much of the fight, using his underappreciated skills to confound Alvarez. However, Alvarez gradually cut off the ring and broke down his naturally bigger opponent until the time came to take him out. A left hook, a big right and it over. Alvarez had beaten a proven 175-pounder and won a title in a third division. “I’m very thankful,” Alvarez said. “This is just a step in my career, in my history, and all I ask of you is to be patient because Canelo will make history. That’s a guarantee.”