Tag: Miguel Cotto

Boxing Hall of Fame: Guide to three-class 2022 induction weekend

Boxing Hall of Fame: Guide to three-class 2022 induction weekend.

Two canceled induction weekends have made this year’s International Boxing Hall of Fame celebration in Canastota, New York, an embarrassment of riches.

The IBHOF will welcome three classes of all-time great boxers into its fold as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, which finally subsided enough to allow for a supersized event this weekend. Those elected will be formally inducted on Sunday.

Roy Jones Jr., Floyd Mayweather and Bernard Hopkins top the deep list of men who will enter the Hall in the modern category.

And those being inducted will also include the first class of women boxers, including Christy Martin and Lucia Rijker in the modern classification.

Here is a list of the inductees (in alphabetical order), with commentary for each one.

CLASS OF 2020

MEN

Bernard Hopkins (pictured at right during is victory over Karo Murat) was a first-ballot inductee. AP Photo / Tim Larsen

BERNARD HOPKINS

Record: 55-8-2, 32 KOs
Active: 1988-2016
Key victories: Glen Johnson, Simon Brown, Antwun Echols (twice), Keith Holmes, Felix Trinidad, William Joppy, Oscar De La Hoya, Antonio Tarver, Kelly Pavlik, Roy Jones Jr., Jean Pascal, Tavoris Cloud, Beibut Shumenov
Titles: Middleweight (1995-2005), light heavyweight (2011-14)
Background: BeHop wasn’t super athletic or powerful. He was merely an enduring boxing wizard, which ultimately earned him reverence as one of the greatest ever in the sport. He set the middleweight record for successful title defenses, 20, which alone would’ve been enough to earn him a place in the Hall. He then became the oldest to ever win a major title when, at 48, he outpointed Tavoris Cloud to win a light heavyweight title.

JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ

Record: 56-7-1, 40 KOs
Active: 1993-2014
Key victories: Derrick Gainer, Orlando Salido, Marco Antonio Barrera, Joel Casamayor, Juan Diaz (twice), Manny Pacquiao
Titles: Featherweight 2003-05, 2006-07; junior lightweight 2007-08; lightweight 2009-12, 2012-13
Background: Marquez started as one third of the great Mexican trio that included Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera but he ended up surpassing his countrymen. The master counterpuncher is best known for his four-fight series with Manny Pacquiao, in which he went 1-2-1. Some believe he deserved to win all four fights. And he claimed the most-dramatic victory of the series, a one-punch knockout that stunned the boxing world in 2012. He was still a world class fighter past 40.

SHANE MOSLEY

Record: 49-10-1, 41 KOs
Active: 1993-2016
Key victories: Phillip Holiday, John John Molina, Oscar De La Hoya (twice), James Leija, Wilfredo Rivera, Fernando Vargas (twice), Ricardo Mayorga (twice), Antonio Margarito
Titles: Lightweight (1997-99); welterweight (2000-02, 2009-10); junior middleweight (2003-04)
Background: Sugar Shane, quick and explosive, made his biggest mark at welterweight and heavier but he might’ve been at his best at lightweight, at which he was 32-0 (30 KOs). However, he became a star when he jumped to welterweight and in 2000 outpointed Los Angeles rival Oscar De La Hoya in their first of two fights. He would remain a major figure in the sport for the next decade-plus.

WOMEN

Christy Martin (at left fighting Dakota Stone) appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Jeff Gross / Getty Images

CHRISTY MARTIN

Record: 49-7-3, 32 KOs
Active: 1989-2012
Key victories: Deirdre Gogarty, Mia St. John, Dakota Stone
Titles: Junior middleweight (2009-10)
Background: Martin was a creation of promoter Don King, who had her fight repeatedly on the undercard of Mike Tyson fights. And she became popular, culminating with her appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated. “The Coal Miner’s Daughter” also was a natural warrior who improved as a boxer as her career progressed. Her biggest fight came in 2003, when she was stopped by Laila Ali. Martin won the 154-pound title when she outpointed Dakota Stone in 2009 at 41.

LUCIA RIJKER

Record: 17-0, 14 KOs
Active: 1996-2004
Key victories: Chevelle Hallback, Andrea DeShong, Jane Couch
Titles: Junior welterweight (1997, 1998)
Background: Some of those familiar with Rijker, who trained under Joe Goossen, Freddie Roach and Emanuel Steward, believe she’s the greatest female boxer of all-time. The accomplished martial artist from the Netherlands sparred regularly with elite male boxers, who respected her all-around ability. She largely flew under the radar because she wasn’t showcased like Christy Martin, Mia St. John and Laila Ali were. She enjoyed her greatest fame as an actress in the film “Million Dollar Baby.”

 

CLASS OF 2021

MEN

Wladimir Klitschko was the dominant heavyweight of his era. Alexander Koerner / Getty Images

WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO

Record: 64-5, 53 KOs
Active: 1996-2017
Key victories: Chris Byrd (twice), Ray Mercer, Samuel Peter (twice), Hasim Rahman, David Haye, Alexander Povetkin
Titles: Heavyweight (2000-03, 2006-15)
Background: Dr. Steelhammer was the most-accomplished heavyweight of his era, reigning as the No. 1 big man for more than a decade largely as a result of his jab and lethal right hand. He had some slip-ups early in his career but rebounded to surpass Joe Louis and Larry Holmes as the longest-reigning heavyweight champions, serving as champion for 12 years when you combine his two reigns. His only true rival in his prime was his brother, Hall of Famer Vitali Klitschko.

FLOYD MAYWEATHER

Record: 50-0, 27 KOs
Active: 1996-2017
Key victories: Genaro Hernandez, Diego Corrales, Jose Luis Castillo (twice), Arturo Gatti, Zab Judah, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Juan Manuel Marquez, Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto, Canelo Alvarez, Manny Pacquiao
Titles: Junior lightweight (1998-2002); lightweight (2002-04); junior welterweight (2005-06); welterweight (2006, 2006-08; 2014-16); junior middleweight (2007, 2012-16)
Background: Mayweather was polarizing outside the ring but as consistent as anyone in history inside it. His sublime skills combined with his work ethic – he was ready to fight every time he stopped into the ring – made him largely untouchable during his career, which culminated in a convincing victory over rival Manny Pacquaio in a record-breaking pay-per-view fight in 2015. Some people (including Mayweather) would argue that he’s the greatest fighter of all time. “Money” also earned far more than any other fighter, reportedly $800 million in the ring alone.

ANDRE WARD

Record: 32-0, 16 KOs
Active: 2004-17
Key victories: Edison Miranda, Mikkel Kessler, Allan Green, Sakio Bika, Arthur Abraham, Carl Froch, Chad Dawson, Sergey Kovalev (twice)
Titles: Super middleweight (2009-15), light heavyweight (2016-17)
Background: The last American man to win a gold medal wasn’t flashy or particularly powerful but few have had his level of skill and ring acumen. He burst upon the professional scene in the Super Six World Boxing Classic, in which the then-young fighter defeated Mikkel Kessler, Allan Green, Arthur Abraham and Carl Froch to win the tournament title and establish himself as a star. Sergey Kovalev gave him his toughest fight but was knocked out in their rematch.

 

WOMEN

Laila Ali had more than just a big name. Lefty Shivambu / Gallo Images

LAILA ALI

Record: 24-0, 21 KOs
Active: 1999-2007
Key victories: Jacqui Frazier-Lyde, Suzette Taylor, Valerie Mahfood (twice), Gwendolyn O’Neil, Erin Toughill, Christy Martin
Titles: Super middleweight (2002-07),
Background: Ali, the daughter of Muhammad Ali, had the advantage of her last name but it turned out that she had both ability and punching power. She made a splash by defeating the daughter of her father’s rival, Jacqui Frazier-Lyde, in 2001 but had many more quality victories. Her highest-profile fight came in 2003, when she stopped overmatched Christy Martin in four rounds.

ANN WOLFE

Record: 24-1, 16 KOs
Active: 1998-2006
Key victories: Dakota Stone, Mary Ann Almager, Vienna Williams, Gina Nicholas, Marsha Valley, Valerie Mahfood, Vonda Ward
Titles: Junior middleweight (1995-2002), light heavyweight (2004)
Background: Wolfe was a skillful, powerfully built fighter known for her dedication in the gym. Her one-punch, first-round knockout of 6-foot-6 Vonda Ward in 2004 went viral on YouTube but she destroyed many other opponents too. She went on to become a trainer, most notably working with James Kirkland.

 

CLASS OF 2022

MEN

Roy Jones Jr (at left fighting Glen Kelly) was a monster in his prime.  Eliot Schechter / Getty Images

MIGUEL COTTO

Record: 41-6, 33 KOs
Active: 2001-17
Key victories: Randall Bailey, Demarcus Corley, Paulie Malignaggi, Carlos Quintana, Zab Judah, Shane Mosley, Joshua Clottey, Ricardo Mayorga, Antonio Margarito, Sergio Martinez
Titles: Junior welterweight (2004-06); welterweight (2006-08, 2009); junior middleweight (2010-12, 2017); middleweight (2014-15)
Background: Cotto was one of greatest Puerto Rican stars of all time, using his combination of ability and professionalism to fight at the highest level of the sport for a decade and a half. The four-division titleholder was never afraid to fight the best possible opponents. And while he didn’t always win his biggest fights – for example, he lost to Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez – he always gave a good account of himself.

ROY JONES JR.

Record: 66-9, 47 KOs
Active: 1989-2018
Key victories: Bernard Hopkins, Thomas Tate, James Toney, Mike McCallum, Montell Griffin, Virgil Hill, John Ruiz, Antonio Tarver, Felix Trinidad
Titles: Middleweight (1993-94); super middleweight (1994-96); light heavyweight (1997, 1997-2003, 2003-04); heavyweight (2003-04)
Background: When Jones was at his best, no one on this list could touch him. His combination of speed, athleticism and crushing power – as well as the ability to use them to destroy opponents – was something to behold from middleweight all the way up to heavyweight. The fact he defeated two fellow inductees (Hopkins and Toney) on Sunday says a lot about him. He made history by outpointing John Ruiz to win a heavyweight title but was never the same after gaining and then losing weight to move back down to 175 pounds.

JAMES TONEY

Record: 77-10-3, 47 KOs
Active: 1988-2017
Key victories: Merqui Sosa, Michael Nunn, Reggie Johnson, Mike McCallum (twice), Iran Barkley, Tim Littles, Charles Williams, Vassiliy Jirov, Evander Holyfield
Titles: Middleweight (1991-93); super middleweight (1993-94); cruiserweight (2003)
Background: Toney was as gifted as anyone who will enter the Hall on Sunday. He was a born boxer, with once-in-a-generation instincts, but he didn’t have the discipline between fights to realize his full potential. As it was, he was one of the best of his era. He made a splash by stopping unbeaten Michael Nunn to win a middleweight title in 1991 and fought at an elite level for another 20 years.

 

WOMEN

Holly Holm was a star in both boxing and MMA. Justin Edmonds / Getty Images

REGINA HALMICH

Record: 54-1-1, 16 KOs
Active: 1994-2007
Key victories: Jill Matthews, Hollie Dunaway, Elena Reid, Kim Messer, Delia Gonzalez
Titles: Flyweight (1995-2007); junior bantamweight (1998-99, 2004), junior flyweight (1996-2007)
Background: The former kickboxer from Germany ventured outside Europe only once – losing to Yvonne Trevino in 1995 in the U.S. – but she was dominating on her native continent. She had two reigns as flyweight champion, with an incredible 28 total successful defenses. She was a major figure in her home country.

HOLLY HOLM

Record: 33-2-3, 9 KOs
Active: 2002-13
Key victories: Christy Martin, Anne Sophie Mathis, Diana Prazak, Mary Jo Sanders, Jane Couch, Chevelle Hallback, Mia St. John, Jaime Clampitt
Titles: Junior welterweight (2004-06, 2010, 2012-13); welterweight (2006-09, 2012): junior middleweight (2006-08)
Background: Holm became a hometown favorite in her native Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she fought the majority of her bouts. The former kickboxer, who had excellent boxing skills, won a reported 14 titles in three divisions. She went on to compete in mixed martial arts, in which she knocked out UFC star Ronda Rousey in a significant upset.

Boxing Hall of Fame: Guide to three-class 2022 induction weekend

Boxing Hall of Fame: Guide to three-class 2022 induction weekend.

Two canceled induction weekends have made this year’s International Boxing Hall of Fame celebration in Canastota, New York, an embarrassment of riches.

The IBHOF will welcome three classes of all-time great boxers into its fold as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, which finally subsided enough to allow for a supersized event this weekend. Those elected will be formally inducted on Sunday.

Roy Jones Jr., Floyd Mayweather and Bernard Hopkins top the deep list of men who will enter the Hall in the modern category.

And those being inducted will also include the first class of women boxers, including Christy Martin and Lucia Rijker in the modern classification.

Here is a list of the inductees (in alphabetical order), with commentary for each one.

CLASS OF 2020

MEN

Bernard Hopkins (pictured at right during is victory over Karo Murat) was a first-ballot inductee. AP Photo / Tim Larsen

BERNARD HOPKINS

Record: 55-8-2, 32 KOs
Active: 1988-2016
Key victories: Glen Johnson, Simon Brown, Antwun Echols (twice), Keith Holmes, Felix Trinidad, William Joppy, Oscar De La Hoya, Antonio Tarver, Kelly Pavlik, Roy Jones Jr., Jean Pascal, Tavoris Cloud, Beibut Shumenov
Titles: Middleweight (1995-2005), light heavyweight (2011-14)
Background: BeHop wasn’t super athletic or powerful. He was merely an enduring boxing wizard, which ultimately earned him reverence as one of the greatest ever in the sport. He set the middleweight record for successful title defenses, 20, which alone would’ve been enough to earn him a place in the Hall. He then became the oldest to ever win a major title when, at 48, he outpointed Tavoris Cloud to win a light heavyweight title.

JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ

Record: 56-7-1, 40 KOs
Active: 1993-2014
Key victories: Derrick Gainer, Orlando Salido, Marco Antonio Barrera, Joel Casamayor, Juan Diaz (twice), Manny Pacquiao
Titles: Featherweight 2003-05, 2006-07; junior lightweight 2007-08; lightweight 2009-12, 2012-13
Background: Marquez started as one third of the great Mexican trio that included Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera but he ended up surpassing his countrymen. The master counterpuncher is best known for his four-fight series with Manny Pacquiao, in which he went 1-2-1. Some believe he deserved to win all four fights. And he claimed the most-dramatic victory of the series, a one-punch knockout that stunned the boxing world in 2012. He was still a world class fighter past 40.

SHANE MOSLEY

Record: 49-10-1, 41 KOs
Active: 1993-2016
Key victories: Phillip Holiday, John John Molina, Oscar De La Hoya (twice), James Leija, Wilfredo Rivera, Fernando Vargas (twice), Ricardo Mayorga (twice), Antonio Margarito
Titles: Lightweight (1997-99); welterweight (2000-02, 2009-10); junior middleweight (2003-04)
Background: Sugar Shane, quick and explosive, made his biggest mark at welterweight and heavier but he might’ve been at his best at lightweight, at which he was 32-0 (30 KOs). However, he became a star when he jumped to welterweight and in 2000 outpointed Los Angeles rival Oscar De La Hoya in their first of two fights. He would remain a major figure in the sport for the next decade-plus.

WOMEN

Christy Martin (at left fighting Dakota Stone) appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Jeff Gross / Getty Images

CHRISTY MARTIN

Record: 49-7-3, 32 KOs
Active: 1989-2012
Key victories: Deirdre Gogarty, Mia St. John, Dakota Stone
Titles: Junior middleweight (2009-10)
Background: Martin was a creation of promoter Don King, who had her fight repeatedly on the undercard of Mike Tyson fights. And she became popular, culminating with her appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated. “The Coal Miner’s Daughter” also was a natural warrior who improved as a boxer as her career progressed. Her biggest fight came in 2003, when she was stopped by Laila Ali. Martin won the 154-pound title when she outpointed Dakota Stone in 2009 at 41.

LUCIA RIJKER

Record: 17-0, 14 KOs
Active: 1996-2004
Key victories: Chevelle Hallback, Andrea DeShong, Jane Couch
Titles: Junior welterweight (1997, 1998)
Background: Some of those familiar with Rijker, who trained under Joe Goossen, Freddie Roach and Emanuel Steward, believe she’s the greatest female boxer of all-time. The accomplished martial artist from the Netherlands sparred regularly with elite male boxers, who respected her all-around ability. She largely flew under the radar because she wasn’t showcased like Christy Martin, Mia St. John and Laila Ali were. She enjoyed her greatest fame as an actress in the film “Million Dollar Baby.”

 

CLASS OF 2021

MEN

Wladimir Klitschko was the dominant heavyweight of his era. Alexander Koerner / Getty Images

WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO

Record: 64-5, 53 KOs
Active: 1996-2017
Key victories: Chris Byrd (twice), Ray Mercer, Samuel Peter (twice), Hasim Rahman, David Haye, Alexander Povetkin
Titles: Heavyweight (2000-03, 2006-15)
Background: Dr. Steelhammer was the most-accomplished heavyweight of his era, reigning as the No. 1 big man for more than a decade largely as a result of his jab and lethal right hand. He had some slip-ups early in his career but rebounded to surpass Joe Louis and Larry Holmes as the longest-reigning heavyweight champions, serving as champion for 12 years when you combine his two reigns. His only true rival in his prime was his brother, Hall of Famer Vitali Klitschko.

FLOYD MAYWEATHER

Record: 50-0, 27 KOs
Active: 1996-2017
Key victories: Genaro Hernandez, Diego Corrales, Jose Luis Castillo (twice), Arturo Gatti, Zab Judah, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Juan Manuel Marquez, Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto, Canelo Alvarez, Manny Pacquiao
Titles: Junior lightweight (1998-2002); lightweight (2002-04); junior welterweight (2005-06); welterweight (2006, 2006-08; 2014-16); junior middleweight (2007, 2012-16)
Background: Mayweather was polarizing outside the ring but as consistent as anyone in history inside it. His sublime skills combined with his work ethic – he was ready to fight every time he stopped into the ring – made him largely untouchable during his career, which culminated in a convincing victory over rival Manny Pacquaio in a record-breaking pay-per-view fight in 2015. Some people (including Mayweather) would argue that he’s the greatest fighter of all time. “Money” also earned far more than any other fighter, reportedly $800 million in the ring alone.

ANDRE WARD

Record: 32-0, 16 KOs
Active: 2004-17
Key victories: Edison Miranda, Mikkel Kessler, Allan Green, Sakio Bika, Arthur Abraham, Carl Froch, Chad Dawson, Sergey Kovalev (twice)
Titles: Super middleweight (2009-15), light heavyweight (2016-17)
Background: The last American man to win a gold medal wasn’t flashy or particularly powerful but few have had his level of skill and ring acumen. He burst upon the professional scene in the Super Six World Boxing Classic, in which the then-young fighter defeated Mikkel Kessler, Allan Green, Arthur Abraham and Carl Froch to win the tournament title and establish himself as a star. Sergey Kovalev gave him his toughest fight but was knocked out in their rematch.

 

WOMEN

Laila Ali had more than just a big name. Lefty Shivambu / Gallo Images

LAILA ALI

Record: 24-0, 21 KOs
Active: 1999-2007
Key victories: Jacqui Frazier-Lyde, Suzette Taylor, Valerie Mahfood (twice), Gwendolyn O’Neil, Erin Toughill, Christy Martin
Titles: Super middleweight (2002-07),
Background: Ali, the daughter of Muhammad Ali, had the advantage of her last name but it turned out that she had both ability and punching power. She made a splash by defeating the daughter of her father’s rival, Jacqui Frazier-Lyde, in 2001 but had many more quality victories. Her highest-profile fight came in 2003, when she stopped overmatched Christy Martin in four rounds.

ANN WOLFE

Record: 24-1, 16 KOs
Active: 1998-2006
Key victories: Dakota Stone, Mary Ann Almager, Vienna Williams, Gina Nicholas, Marsha Valley, Valerie Mahfood, Vonda Ward
Titles: Junior middleweight (1995-2002), light heavyweight (2004)
Background: Wolfe was a skillful, powerfully built fighter known for her dedication in the gym. Her one-punch, first-round knockout of 6-foot-6 Vonda Ward in 2004 went viral on YouTube but she destroyed many other opponents too. She went on to become a trainer, most notably working with James Kirkland.

 

CLASS OF 2022

MEN

Roy Jones Jr (at left fighting Glen Kelly) was a monster in his prime.  Eliot Schechter / Getty Images

MIGUEL COTTO

Record: 41-6, 33 KOs
Active: 2001-17
Key victories: Randall Bailey, Demarcus Corley, Paulie Malignaggi, Carlos Quintana, Zab Judah, Shane Mosley, Joshua Clottey, Ricardo Mayorga, Antonio Margarito, Sergio Martinez
Titles: Junior welterweight (2004-06); welterweight (2006-08, 2009); junior middleweight (2010-12, 2017); middleweight (2014-15)
Background: Cotto was one of greatest Puerto Rican stars of all time, using his combination of ability and professionalism to fight at the highest level of the sport for a decade and a half. The four-division titleholder was never afraid to fight the best possible opponents. And while he didn’t always win his biggest fights – for example, he lost to Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez – he always gave a good account of himself.

ROY JONES JR.

Record: 66-9, 47 KOs
Active: 1989-2018
Key victories: Bernard Hopkins, Thomas Tate, James Toney, Mike McCallum, Montell Griffin, Virgil Hill, John Ruiz, Antonio Tarver, Felix Trinidad
Titles: Middleweight (1993-94); super middleweight (1994-96); light heavyweight (1997, 1997-2003, 2003-04); heavyweight (2003-04)
Background: When Jones was at his best, no one on this list could touch him. His combination of speed, athleticism and crushing power – as well as the ability to use them to destroy opponents – was something to behold from middleweight all the way up to heavyweight. The fact he defeated two fellow inductees (Hopkins and Toney) on Sunday says a lot about him. He made history by outpointing John Ruiz to win a heavyweight title but was never the same after gaining and then losing weight to move back down to 175 pounds.

JAMES TONEY

Record: 77-10-3, 47 KOs
Active: 1988-2017
Key victories: Merqui Sosa, Michael Nunn, Reggie Johnson, Mike McCallum (twice), Iran Barkley, Tim Littles, Charles Williams, Vassiliy Jirov, Evander Holyfield
Titles: Middleweight (1991-93); super middleweight (1993-94); cruiserweight (2003)
Background: Toney was as gifted as anyone who will enter the Hall on Sunday. He was a born boxer, with once-in-a-generation instincts, but he didn’t have the discipline between fights to realize his full potential. As it was, he was one of the best of his era. He made a splash by stopping unbeaten Michael Nunn to win a middleweight title in 1991 and fought at an elite level for another 20 years.

 

WOMEN

Holly Holm was a star in both boxing and MMA. Justin Edmonds / Getty Images

REGINA HALMICH

Record: 54-1-1, 16 KOs
Active: 1994-2007
Key victories: Jill Matthews, Hollie Dunaway, Elena Reid, Kim Messer, Delia Gonzalez
Titles: Flyweight (1995-2007); junior bantamweight (1998-99, 2004), junior flyweight (1996-2007)
Background: The former kickboxer from Germany ventured outside Europe only once – losing to Yvonne Trevino in 1995 in the U.S. – but she was dominating on her native continent. She had two reigns as flyweight champion, with an incredible 28 total successful defenses. She was a major figure in her home country.

HOLLY HOLM

Record: 33-2-3, 9 KOs
Active: 2002-13
Key victories: Christy Martin, Anne Sophie Mathis, Diana Prazak, Mary Jo Sanders, Jane Couch, Chevelle Hallback, Mia St. John, Jaime Clampitt
Titles: Junior welterweight (2004-06, 2010, 2012-13); welterweight (2006-09, 2012): junior middleweight (2006-08)
Background: Holm became a hometown favorite in her native Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she fought the majority of her bouts. The former kickboxer, who had excellent boxing skills, won a reported 14 titles in three divisions. She went on to compete in mixed martial arts, in which she knocked out UFC star Ronda Rousey in a significant upset.

Canelo Alvarez: Ranking the Mexican star’s calendar years, best to worst

Editor’s note: This article was originally posted this past November. It has been updated to include 2021. Canelo Alvarez has known almost nothing but success over the past decade-plus. The Mexican star has beaten one ranked fighter after another, …

Editor’s note: This article was originally posted this past November. It has been updated to include 2021.

Canelo Alvarez has known almost nothing but success over the past decade-plus.

The Mexican star has beaten one ranked fighter after another, won major titles in four divisions and is on the cusp of becoming an undisputed champion for the first time. Alvarez (57-1-2, 38 KOs) challenges Dmitry Bivol in a pay-per-view bout Saturday from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

In this special feature, we take a look at Alvarez’s performances year by calendar year and then rank those years – best to worst – beginning in 2010, when he was introduced to American audiences on a significant scale.

The current year is not including because it hinges on Saturday’s fight. If he wins, it will be among his best years. If he loses, it will be down the list.

Here is what we came up with:

2019

Record: 2-0
Opponents: Daniel Jacobs (UD) and Sergey Kovalev (KO 11)
Background: The victory over Jacobs seems to fly under the radar but it was impressive. Jacobs was talented, polished, a big middleweight and at the top of his game when he met Alvarez in a title-unification bout. And the Mexican was up to the challenge, outboxing Jacobs to win a unanimous decision in a competitive fight. … Six months later he made a bold move by deciding to move up to light heavyweight to challenge beltholder Kovalev, who was somewhat past his prime but still dangerous and bigger than Alvarez. The Russian fought Alvarez on roughly even terms until the challenger dropped the hammer in Round 11. Two big fights, two big victories.

2018

Record: 2-0
Opponents: Gennadiy Golovkin (MD) and Rocky Fielding (TKO 3)
Background: The victory over Triple-G in their rematch was arguably the greatest of Alvarez’s career. The two best 160-pounders in the world had fought to a disputed draw a year earlier and there was every reason to believe the second fight would be just as close and perhaps disputed. It was, as both men held their own. However, unlike the first meeting, Alvarez pushed the action much of the fight and was rewarded for that on two of three cards. Golovkin was unbeaten and had made a record-tying 20 successful defenses going into the fight. … Throw out the Fielding fight. That was a secondary 168-pound title grab against a second-tier opponent.

2015

Record: 2-0
Opponents: James Kirkland (KO 3) and Miguel Cotto (UD)
Background: The victory over the wildly aggressive Kirkland wasn’t as meaningful many other Alvarez triumphs because of the Texan’s limitations. However, Alvarez’s brutal knockout might’ve been the most breathtaking of his 38 stoppages, which added considerably to his growing star power. … Cotto, 35, was past his prime and a smallish 154-pounder but his unquestioned ability and experience made him a threat to Alvarez, at least on paper. In the end, the slick Puerto Rican did give Alvarez some difficulty but he ended up on the wrong end of a clear decision.

2014

Record: 2-0
Opponents: Alfredo Angulo (TKO 10) and Erislandy Lara (SD)
Background: Some might forget that Angulo was a solid, durable boxer who was coming off a strong performance in a loss to the respected Lara when he fought Alvarez. Yet Alvarez dominated his fellow Mexican in his first fight since losing to Floyd Mayweather. He outboxed Angulo for nine rounds and then stopped him in Round 10. … Some of Alvarez’s handlers didn’t want him to fight Lara, a tricky Cuban southpaw who could make anyone look bad. And that’s how it played out. Alvarez had to scrape and claw to eke out a split-decision victory that many believe was a gift from two of the three judges.

2021

Record: 3-0
Opponent: Avni Yildirim (KO 3), Billy Joe Saunders (KO 8), Caleb Plant (KO 11)
Background: Alvarez realized a goal by becoming undisputed super middleweight champion in a busy year last year. He fought the limited Yildirim in February only because he was his mandatory challenger. He then faced capable beltholders in Saunders (in May) and Plant (November), who held their own against Alvarez until he caught up with them, broke them down and ultimately stopped them. He turned 31 in July 2021. He obviously hadn’t slowed down.

2020

Record: 1-0
Opponent: Callum Smith (UD)
Background: Alvarez fought only once in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic but made the most the 168-pound title-unification bout. Smith was a legitimate opponent on paper, tall, skillful, experienced. He was an underdog but some believes he could be competitive against Alvarez. He wasn’t. Alvarez had his way with the Englishman in part because the latter didn’t have the power to knock Alvarez off his game, the result being a one-sided decision in a one-sided fight. The victory gave Alvarez two of the four major super middleweight titles, after which he set his sights on the last two.

2016

Record: 2-0
Opponents: Amir Khan (KO 6) and Liam Smith (KO 9)
Background: Alvarez’s knockout of Khan rivals his stoppage of James Kirkland. Khan, a quick, capable boxer who had moved up from 147 pounds to a catch weight of 155, held his own for five-plus rounds and then BAM! A right hand from hell put Khan down and removed him from his senses. … The Smith fight was as much about the crowd size and venue – 50,000-plus at the home of the Dallas Cowboys – as the opponent. Smith, the brother of Callum Smith, was a solid all-around fighter but had no where near Alvarez’s ability. The Englishman was overwhelmed in the end.

2012

Record: 2-0
Opponents: Shane Mosley (UD) and Josesito Lopez (TKO 5)
Background: Mosley, 40, was well past his prime when he met Alvarez but the fight was important for the rising star because Sugar Shane was the first major figure on his resume. And he didn’t disappoint, even at 21 years old. The younger, faster man outboxed his overmatched elder from beginning to end to win by a near-shutout decision. Taking down a future Hall of Famer is a significant step in any fighter’s career. … Lopez was and remains a gutsy warrior but he was too small for Alvarez, who put him down three times in a one-sided junior middleweight fight.

2011

Record: 4-0
Opponents: Matthew Hatton (UD), Ryan Rhodes (TKO 12), Alfonso Gomez (TKO 6), Kermit Cintron (TKO 5)
Background: One could argue that the limited Matthew Hatton. Ricky’s brother, didn’t have the credentials to be fighting for a major belt. However, the fact is he and Alvarez met for the junior middleweight title vacated by Manny Pacquiao. And it wasn’t much of a fight. Alvarez, levels above Hatton, would’ve won every round on all three cards had he not lost a point for hitting after the break in Round 7. He had won the first of eight titles at the tender age of 20. Rhodes, Gomez and Cintron were all solid fighters carefully selected to help Alvarez develop into one of the best fighters in the business.

2010

Record: 5-0
Opponents: Brian Camechis (KO 3), Jose Cotto (TKO 9), Luciano Cuello (TKO 6), Carlos Baldomir (KO 6) and Lovemore Ndou (UD 12)
Background: 2010 was most notable because it was the year in which Alvarez fought on a major U.S. card for the first time. The 19-year-old redhead from Guadalajara stopped Jose Cotto, Miguel’s brother, in the ninth round on the Mayweather-Mosley card at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Cotto hurt Alvarez with a left hook in Round 1 but the teenager battled through it and ended up winning by knockout. Camechis, Cuello, Baldomir and Ndou didn’t give the evolving young star much resistance, which was a pattern that would continue when Alvarez faced second-tier opposition.

2017

Record: 1-0-1
Opponents: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (UD) and Gennadiy Golovkin (SD D)
Background: A showdown between Alvarez and Chavez had been discussed for years. When it finally happened, it wasn’t much of a fight. Alvarez outclassed (embarrassed?) the son of a Mexican legend, winning every round on all three cards. … The first fight between Alvarez and Triple-G was the ultimate middleweight matchup, between a long-reigning knockout artist (Golovkin) and a rising superstar (Alvarez). The Kazakhstani used effective aggression to win over most observers in a competitive fight but he had to settle for a controversial draw. Indeed, Alvarez was fortunate he didn’t leave the ring with his second loss.

2013

Record: 1-1
Opponents: Austin Trout (UD) and Floyd Mayweather (UD L)
Background: The 22-year-old Alvarez took a significant risk when he decided to fight the skillful Trout, who was left-handed, unbeaten and coming off a defining victory over Miguel Cotto. The gamble paid off. In his finest performance to date, he outboxed Trout to win a clear decision. … The decision to fight Mayweather was even bolder. And it didn’t pay off, at least in terms of results. The pound-for-pound king schooled the upstart, who didn’t have the tools to compete with a boxing wizard like Mayweather. The good news for him is that the setback sharpened his resolve to get better. He did.

[lawrence-related id=25595,25419,25389,25345,25341,25333,25146,25143]

Canelo Alvarez: Ranking the Mexican star’s calendar years, best to worst

Editor’s note: This article was originally posted this past November. It has been updated to include 2021. Canelo Alvarez has known almost nothing but success over the past decade-plus. The Mexican star has beaten one ranked fighter after another, …

Editor’s note: This article was originally posted this past November. It has been updated to include 2021.

Canelo Alvarez has known almost nothing but success over the past decade-plus.

The Mexican star has beaten one ranked fighter after another, won major titles in four divisions and is on the cusp of becoming an undisputed champion for the first time. Alvarez (57-1-2, 38 KOs) challenges Dmitry Bivol in a pay-per-view bout Saturday from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

In this special feature, we take a look at Alvarez’s performances year by calendar year and then rank those years – best to worst – beginning in 2010, when he was introduced to American audiences on a significant scale.

The current year is not including because it hinges on Saturday’s fight. If he wins, it will be among his best years. If he loses, it will be down the list.

Here is what we came up with:

2019

Record: 2-0
Opponents: Daniel Jacobs (UD) and Sergey Kovalev (KO 11)
Background: The victory over Jacobs seems to fly under the radar but it was impressive. Jacobs was talented, polished, a big middleweight and at the top of his game when he met Alvarez in a title-unification bout. And the Mexican was up to the challenge, outboxing Jacobs to win a unanimous decision in a competitive fight. … Six months later he made a bold move by deciding to move up to light heavyweight to challenge beltholder Kovalev, who was somewhat past his prime but still dangerous and bigger than Alvarez. The Russian fought Alvarez on roughly even terms until the challenger dropped the hammer in Round 11. Two big fights, two big victories.

2018

Record: 2-0
Opponents: Gennadiy Golovkin (MD) and Rocky Fielding (TKO 3)
Background: The victory over Triple-G in their rematch was arguably the greatest of Alvarez’s career. The two best 160-pounders in the world had fought to a disputed draw a year earlier and there was every reason to believe the second fight would be just as close and perhaps disputed. It was, as both men held their own. However, unlike the first meeting, Alvarez pushed the action much of the fight and was rewarded for that on two of three cards. Golovkin was unbeaten and had made a record-tying 20 successful defenses going into the fight. … Throw out the Fielding fight. That was a secondary 168-pound title grab against a second-tier opponent.

2015

Record: 2-0
Opponents: James Kirkland (KO 3) and Miguel Cotto (UD)
Background: The victory over the wildly aggressive Kirkland wasn’t as meaningful many other Alvarez triumphs because of the Texan’s limitations. However, Alvarez’s brutal knockout might’ve been the most breathtaking of his 38 stoppages, which added considerably to his growing star power. … Cotto, 35, was past his prime and a smallish 154-pounder but his unquestioned ability and experience made him a threat to Alvarez, at least on paper. In the end, the slick Puerto Rican did give Alvarez some difficulty but he ended up on the wrong end of a clear decision.

2014

Record: 2-0
Opponents: Alfredo Angulo (TKO 10) and Erislandy Lara (SD)
Background: Some might forget that Angulo was a solid, durable boxer who was coming off a strong performance in a loss to the respected Lara when he fought Alvarez. Yet Alvarez dominated his fellow Mexican in his first fight since losing to Floyd Mayweather. He outboxed Angulo for nine rounds and then stopped him in Round 10. … Some of Alvarez’s handlers didn’t want him to fight Lara, a tricky Cuban southpaw who could make anyone look bad. And that’s how it played out. Alvarez had to scrape and claw to eke out a split-decision victory that many believe was a gift from two of the three judges.

2021

Record: 3-0
Opponent: Avni Yildirim (KO 3), Billy Joe Saunders (KO 8), Caleb Plant (KO 11)
Background: Alvarez realized a goal by becoming undisputed super middleweight champion in a busy year last year. He fought the limited Yildirim in February only because he was his mandatory challenger. He then faced capable beltholders in Saunders (in May) and Plant (November), who held their own against Alvarez until he caught up with them, broke them down and ultimately stopped them. He turned 31 in July 2021. He obviously hadn’t slowed down.

2020

Record: 1-0
Opponent: Callum Smith (UD)
Background: Alvarez fought only once in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic but made the most the 168-pound title-unification bout. Smith was a legitimate opponent on paper, tall, skillful, experienced. He was an underdog but some believes he could be competitive against Alvarez. He wasn’t. Alvarez had his way with the Englishman in part because the latter didn’t have the power to knock Alvarez off his game, the result being a one-sided decision in a one-sided fight. The victory gave Alvarez two of the four major super middleweight titles, after which he set his sights on the last two.

2016

Record: 2-0
Opponents: Amir Khan (KO 6) and Liam Smith (KO 9)
Background: Alvarez’s knockout of Khan rivals his stoppage of James Kirkland. Khan, a quick, capable boxer who had moved up from 147 pounds to a catch weight of 155, held his own for five-plus rounds and then BAM! A right hand from hell put Khan down and removed him from his senses. … The Smith fight was as much about the crowd size and venue – 50,000-plus at the home of the Dallas Cowboys – as the opponent. Smith, the brother of Callum Smith, was a solid all-around fighter but had no where near Alvarez’s ability. The Englishman was overwhelmed in the end.

2012

Record: 2-0
Opponents: Shane Mosley (UD) and Josesito Lopez (TKO 5)
Background: Mosley, 40, was well past his prime when he met Alvarez but the fight was important for the rising star because Sugar Shane was the first major figure on his resume. And he didn’t disappoint, even at 21 years old. The younger, faster man outboxed his overmatched elder from beginning to end to win by a near-shutout decision. Taking down a future Hall of Famer is a significant step in any fighter’s career. … Lopez was and remains a gutsy warrior but he was too small for Alvarez, who put him down three times in a one-sided junior middleweight fight.

2011

Record: 4-0
Opponents: Matthew Hatton (UD), Ryan Rhodes (TKO 12), Alfonso Gomez (TKO 6), Kermit Cintron (TKO 5)
Background: One could argue that the limited Matthew Hatton. Ricky’s brother, didn’t have the credentials to be fighting for a major belt. However, the fact is he and Alvarez met for the junior middleweight title vacated by Manny Pacquiao. And it wasn’t much of a fight. Alvarez, levels above Hatton, would’ve won every round on all three cards had he not lost a point for hitting after the break in Round 7. He had won the first of eight titles at the tender age of 20. Rhodes, Gomez and Cintron were all solid fighters carefully selected to help Alvarez develop into one of the best fighters in the business.

2010

Record: 5-0
Opponents: Brian Camechis (KO 3), Jose Cotto (TKO 9), Luciano Cuello (TKO 6), Carlos Baldomir (KO 6) and Lovemore Ndou (UD 12)
Background: 2010 was most notable because it was the year in which Alvarez fought on a major U.S. card for the first time. The 19-year-old redhead from Guadalajara stopped Jose Cotto, Miguel’s brother, in the ninth round on the Mayweather-Mosley card at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Cotto hurt Alvarez with a left hook in Round 1 but the teenager battled through it and ended up winning by knockout. Camechis, Cuello, Baldomir and Ndou didn’t give the evolving young star much resistance, which was a pattern that would continue when Alvarez faced second-tier opposition.

2017

Record: 1-0-1
Opponents: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (UD) and Gennadiy Golovkin (SD D)
Background: A showdown between Alvarez and Chavez had been discussed for years. When it finally happened, it wasn’t much of a fight. Alvarez outclassed (embarrassed?) the son of a Mexican legend, winning every round on all three cards. … The first fight between Alvarez and Triple-G was the ultimate middleweight matchup, between a long-reigning knockout artist (Golovkin) and a rising superstar (Alvarez). The Kazakhstani used effective aggression to win over most observers in a competitive fight but he had to settle for a controversial draw. Indeed, Alvarez was fortunate he didn’t leave the ring with his second loss.

2013

Record: 1-1
Opponents: Austin Trout (UD) and Floyd Mayweather (UD L)
Background: The 22-year-old Alvarez took a significant risk when he decided to fight the skillful Trout, who was left-handed, unbeaten and coming off a defining victory over Miguel Cotto. The gamble paid off. In his finest performance to date, he outboxed Trout to win a clear decision. … The decision to fight Mayweather was even bolder. And it didn’t pay off, at least in terms of results. The pound-for-pound king schooled the upstart, who didn’t have the tools to compete with a boxing wizard like Mayweather. The good news for him is that the setback sharpened his resolve to get better. He did.

[lawrence-related id=25595,25419,25389,25345,25341,25333,25146,25143]

Bob Arum at 90: Hall of Fame promoter by the numbers

Bob Arum turned 90 today. And the Hall of Fame promoter is still going strong. The Vasiliy Lomachenko-Richard Commey card on Saturday in New York (ESPN and ESPN+) will be the 2,120 th of the Top Rank chairman’s career, according to a Top Rank news …

Bob Arum turned 90 today. And the Hall of Fame promoter is still going strong.

The Vasiliy Lomachenko-Richard Commey card on Saturday in New York (ESPN and ESPN+) will be the 2,120th of the Top Rank chairman’s career, according to a Top Rank news release. That’s an average of almost 40 cards per year since his first promotion on March 29, 1966 in Toronto, where Muhammad Ali successfully defended his heavyweight title against George Chuvalo.

Arum has promoted many of the biggest names in the sport but the company emphasized the championship run of Marvin Hagler, George Foreman’s “triumphant return” to boxing and Manny Pacquiao’s rise to superstardom.

Arum also oversaw Oscar De La Hoya’s evolution into the face of boxing.

The release included “Bob Arum by the Numbers.” Here are a few items that stood out: He promoted 41 Miguel Cotto fights, more than any other fighter; he has promoted 864 cards on ESPN, more than any other network; he has promoted 677 world title fights; he has promoted 550 cards in Nevada, more than any other state; he has promoted cards in 220 U.S. cities; he has promoted cards in 42 of the 50 U.S. states; and he has promoted 63 cards in Puerto Rico, more than any other foreign country.

Promoter Bob Arum has promoted 2,119 boxing cards. Ethan Miller / Getty Images

The full list is below.

  • 2,119 Boxing cards promoted
  • 864 Boxing shows TR promoted on ESPN network
  • 677 World title fights promoted by TR
  • 550 Boxing shows TR promoted in Nevada
  • 412 Boxing shows TR promoted in New Jersey
  • 220 U.S. cities in which TR has promoted
  • 196 Boxing shows promoted by TR in California
  • 154 Boxing shows promoted by TR in Texas
  • 129 Boxing shows TR promoted on HBO network
  • 98 Boxing shows promoted by TR on CBS network
  • 92 Foreign cities in which TR has promoted
  • 73 Boxing shows TR promoted on ABC network
  • 73 Boxing shows promoted by TR in New York State
  • 70 Boxing shows promoted by TR in Arizona
  • 63 Boxing shows promoted by TR in Puerto Rico
  • 52 Boxing shows promoted by TR in Mexico
  • 49 Pay-per-view boxing shows promoted by TR
  • 48 Boxing shows promoted by TR in New York City                      
  • 47 Boxing shows promoted by TR in Illinois
  • 42 States in which TR has promoted boxing
  • 41 Miguel Cotto fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 41 Boxing shows promoted by TR in Pennsylvania
  • 38 Michael Carbajal fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 37 Oscar De La Hoya fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 37 Donald Curry fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 36 Johnny Tapia fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 35 Floyd Mayweather, Jr fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 33 James Toney fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 33 Boxing shows promoted by TR in Florida
  • 32 Erik Morales fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 31 Micky Ward fights promoted by TR
  • 30 Boxing shows promoted by TR on Showtime/ShoBox networks
  • 29 Mikey Garcia fights promoted by TR
  • 29 Tommy (The Duke) Morrison fights promoted by TR
  • 28 Iran Barkley fights promoted by TR
  • 28 Oscar Valdez fights promoted by TR
  • 27 Muhammad Ali fights promoted or co-promoted by TR
  • 27 Boxing shows promoted by TR on Closed-Circuit TV
  • 27 Foreign countries in which TR has promoted, including Puerto Rico (a U.S. territory)
  • 27 Jose Ramirez fights promoted by TR
  • 25 Freddie Roach fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 25 Roger Mayweather fights promoted by TR
  • 24 Boxing shows promoted by TR in New Mexico
  • 24 World heavyweight title fights promoted by TR
  • 24 Terence Crawford fights promoted by TR
  • 20 Marvelous Marvin Hagler fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 20 Manny Pacquiao fights promoted by TR
  • 19 Juan Manuel Marquez fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 17 Shakur Stevenson fights promoted by TR
  • 16 Robert Garcia fights promoted by TR
  • 14 George Foreman fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 14 Boxing shows promoted by TR in China
  • 13 Thomas Hearns fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 13 Teofimo Lopez fights promoted by TR
  • 10 Alexis Arguello fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 10 Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini fights promoted by TR (HOF)\
  • 9 Boxing shows promoted by TR in Colorado
  • 8 Roberto Duran fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 7 Sugar Ray Leonard fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 7 Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. fights by TR (HOF)
  • 5 Carlos Monzon fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 5 Emile Griffith fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 4 Mike Tyson fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 4 Tyson Fury fights promoted by TR
  • 2 Larry Holmes fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 1 Evel Knievel Snake River Canyon jump promoted by Bob Arum
  • 0 Boxing shows promoted by TR in: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Kansas, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, Wyoming

(HOF) – Hall of Famer

Bob Arum at 90: Hall of Fame promoter by the numbers

Bob Arum turned 90 today. And the Hall of Fame promoter is still going strong. The Vasiliy Lomachenko-Richard Commey card on Saturday in New York (ESPN and ESPN+) will be the 2,120 th of the Top Rank chairman’s career, according to a Top Rank news …

Bob Arum turned 90 today. And the Hall of Fame promoter is still going strong.

The Vasiliy Lomachenko-Richard Commey card on Saturday in New York (ESPN and ESPN+) will be the 2,120th of the Top Rank chairman’s career, according to a Top Rank news release. That’s an average of almost 40 cards per year since his first promotion on March 29, 1966 in Toronto, where Muhammad Ali successfully defended his heavyweight title against George Chuvalo.

Arum has promoted many of the biggest names in the sport but the company emphasized the championship run of Marvin Hagler, George Foreman’s “triumphant return” to boxing and Manny Pacquiao’s rise to superstardom.

Arum also oversaw Oscar De La Hoya’s evolution into the face of boxing.

The release included “Bob Arum by the Numbers.” Here are a few items that stood out: He promoted 41 Miguel Cotto fights, more than any other fighter; he has promoted 864 cards on ESPN, more than any other network; he has promoted 677 world title fights; he has promoted 550 cards in Nevada, more than any other state; he has promoted cards in 220 U.S. cities; he has promoted cards in 42 of the 50 U.S. states; and he has promoted 63 cards in Puerto Rico, more than any other foreign country.

Promoter Bob Arum has promoted 2,119 boxing cards. Ethan Miller / Getty Images

The full list is below.

  • 2,119 Boxing cards promoted
  • 864 Boxing shows TR promoted on ESPN network
  • 677 World title fights promoted by TR
  • 550 Boxing shows TR promoted in Nevada
  • 412 Boxing shows TR promoted in New Jersey
  • 220 U.S. cities in which TR has promoted
  • 196 Boxing shows promoted by TR in California
  • 154 Boxing shows promoted by TR in Texas
  • 129 Boxing shows TR promoted on HBO network
  • 98 Boxing shows promoted by TR on CBS network
  • 92 Foreign cities in which TR has promoted
  • 73 Boxing shows TR promoted on ABC network
  • 73 Boxing shows promoted by TR in New York State
  • 70 Boxing shows promoted by TR in Arizona
  • 63 Boxing shows promoted by TR in Puerto Rico
  • 52 Boxing shows promoted by TR in Mexico
  • 49 Pay-per-view boxing shows promoted by TR
  • 48 Boxing shows promoted by TR in New York City                      
  • 47 Boxing shows promoted by TR in Illinois
  • 42 States in which TR has promoted boxing
  • 41 Miguel Cotto fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 41 Boxing shows promoted by TR in Pennsylvania
  • 38 Michael Carbajal fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 37 Oscar De La Hoya fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 37 Donald Curry fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 36 Johnny Tapia fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 35 Floyd Mayweather, Jr fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 33 James Toney fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 33 Boxing shows promoted by TR in Florida
  • 32 Erik Morales fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 31 Micky Ward fights promoted by TR
  • 30 Boxing shows promoted by TR on Showtime/ShoBox networks
  • 29 Mikey Garcia fights promoted by TR
  • 29 Tommy (The Duke) Morrison fights promoted by TR
  • 28 Iran Barkley fights promoted by TR
  • 28 Oscar Valdez fights promoted by TR
  • 27 Muhammad Ali fights promoted or co-promoted by TR
  • 27 Boxing shows promoted by TR on Closed-Circuit TV
  • 27 Foreign countries in which TR has promoted, including Puerto Rico (a U.S. territory)
  • 27 Jose Ramirez fights promoted by TR
  • 25 Freddie Roach fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 25 Roger Mayweather fights promoted by TR
  • 24 Boxing shows promoted by TR in New Mexico
  • 24 World heavyweight title fights promoted by TR
  • 24 Terence Crawford fights promoted by TR
  • 20 Marvelous Marvin Hagler fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 20 Manny Pacquiao fights promoted by TR
  • 19 Juan Manuel Marquez fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 17 Shakur Stevenson fights promoted by TR
  • 16 Robert Garcia fights promoted by TR
  • 14 George Foreman fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 14 Boxing shows promoted by TR in China
  • 13 Thomas Hearns fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 13 Teofimo Lopez fights promoted by TR
  • 10 Alexis Arguello fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 10 Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini fights promoted by TR (HOF)\
  • 9 Boxing shows promoted by TR in Colorado
  • 8 Roberto Duran fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 7 Sugar Ray Leonard fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 7 Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. fights by TR (HOF)
  • 5 Carlos Monzon fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 5 Emile Griffith fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 4 Mike Tyson fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 4 Tyson Fury fights promoted by TR
  • 2 Larry Holmes fights promoted by TR (HOF)
  • 1 Evel Knievel Snake River Canyon jump promoted by Bob Arum
  • 0 Boxing shows promoted by TR in: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Kansas, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, Wyoming

(HOF) – Hall of Famer

Roy Jones Jr., James Toney, Miguel Cotto elected to Boxing Hall of Fame

Roy Jones Jr., James Toney and Miguel Cotto have been elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame, it was announced today.

Roy Jones Jr. was a force of nature. James Toney had rare skills. And Miguel Cotto’s all-around game made him one of the biggest stars in the sport.

All three have been rewarded for their success by being elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame, it was announced today.

The Class of 2022 will be inducted this coming June in Canastota, New York, with the 2020 and 2021 classes because the two previous induction ceremonies were canceled as a result of COVID-19.

That means Jones, Toney and Cotto will enter the Hall with a cavalcade of stars, including Floyd Mayweather, Bernard Hopkins, Wladimir Klitschko, Juan Manuel Marquez, Shane Mosley, Andre Ward, Laila Ali, Christy Martin and other big names.

Jones (66-9, 47 KOs) was a longtime pound-for-pound king who was untouchable in his prime. The 1988 Olympic silver medalist was too quick, too athletic and much too powerful for his opponents, most of whom he overwhelmed.

He defeated the likes of Thomas Tate, Toney, Hopkins, Mike McCallum, Montell Griffin and Virgil Hill en route to winning major titles in four weight classes.

That includes the heavyweight division, to which he moved up from light heavyweight and defeated reigning titleholder John Ruiz by a unanimous decision in 2003 to become the first former middleweight to win a heavyweight title in more than a century.

Jones was never the same after that, suffering eight of his nine losses, and he fought well into his 40s. However, those who saw him at his best will vouch for his greatness.

He was recently back in the news when he faced Mike Tyson in an exhibition.

“This is an absolutely marvelous feeling,” Jones said of his election. “I’m so honored that I get this opportunity and I can’t wait to go to Canastota to see it come to fruition.”

Toney (77-10-3, 47 KOs) had a more difficult time with his weight than opponents. Still, the master technician won titles in three divisions – middleweight, super middleweight and cruiserweight — and became a top heavyweight contender.

“Lights out” upset then-unbeaten Michael Nunn by an 11th-round knockout to win a middleweight title in 1991. He then took down Reggie Johnson, Mike McCallum (after an earlier draw), Iran Barkley and many other top fighters between middleweight and light heavyweight.

He lost back-to-back fights to Jones and Griffin in 1994 and 1995 but rebounded to become an outstanding cruiserweight and good heavyweight. He became only the second to stop Evander Holyfield in 2003 and then beat Ruiz to win a title only to lose it after testing positive for a banned substance.

Toney continued to fight until he was almost 50.

​“Yeah baby! I made it,” Toney said. “This is so great. I’ve been waiting for this call and I’m so happy. I can’t believe it. I’m almost tearing up. It’s a blessing and I’m looking forward to coming to Canastota as an inductee!”

Cotto (41-6, 33 KOs) ranks with the best Puerto Rican fighters of all time. He won major titles in four divisions and fought all the top contenders near his weight, beating Paulie Malignaggi, Zab Judah, Shane Mosley, Ricardo Mayorga and Antonio Margarito after an earlier loss.

He also lost to Manny Pacquiao, Mayweather, Austin Trout, Canelo Alvarez and Sadam Ali in his final fight but always gave a good account of himself.

“After many years in boxing, I’m so proud of what we have done in the sport,” Cotto said. “Above all I was the head of my family and what made me proud as a father was to provide for my family and thanks to boxing I did it in the best way possible.

“It is amazing, but you have to be humble and carry yourself in the best way possible and work hard every day to reach your goals in life. I look forward to being in Canastota next June.”

Among those who failed to receive enough votes for election were Rafael Marquez, Michael Moorer, Timothy Bradley, Acelino Freitas, Pongsaklek Wonjongkam, Carl Froch, Ivan Calderon and Ricky Hatton.

Jones, Toney and Cotto were elected in the Modern category. Regina Halmich (54-1-1, 16 KOs) and Holly Holm (33-2-3, 9 KOs) in the women’s Modern category.

Halmich, who fought almost exclusively in her native Germany, was almost untouchable during her long career. Holm, perhaps best known for knocking out Ronda Rousey in an MMA bout, was a huge boxing attraction in her native Albuquerque, New Mexico.

“Wow! What an honor,” Halmich said. “I’m very, very happy. My biggest wish was to one day be in the International Boxing Hall of Fame and this is really the biggest honor for me.”

Said Holm: “​I feel very humbled and honored to be acknowledged amongst the greatest. I’m kind of speechless actually. I’m really excited.”

Also being inducted are: publicist Bill Caplan in the Non-Participant category; and writer Ron Borges and historian Bob Yalen in the Observer category.

Roy Jones Jr., James Toney, Miguel Cotto elected to Boxing Hall of Fame

Roy Jones Jr., James Toney and Miguel Cotto have been elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame, it was announced today.

Roy Jones Jr. was a force of nature. James Toney had rare skills. And Miguel Cotto’s all-around game made him one of the biggest stars in the sport.

All three have been rewarded for their success by being elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame, it was announced today.

The Class of 2022 will be inducted this coming June in Canastota, New York, with the 2020 and 2021 classes because the two previous induction ceremonies were canceled as a result of COVID-19.

That means Jones, Toney and Cotto will enter the Hall with a cavalcade of stars, including Floyd Mayweather, Bernard Hopkins, Wladimir Klitschko, Juan Manuel Marquez, Shane Mosley, Andre Ward, Laila Ali, Christy Martin and other big names.

Jones (66-9, 47 KOs) was a longtime pound-for-pound king who was untouchable in his prime. The 1988 Olympic silver medalist was too quick, too athletic and much too powerful for his opponents, most of whom he overwhelmed.

He defeated the likes of Thomas Tate, Toney, Hopkins, Mike McCallum, Montell Griffin and Virgil Hill en route to winning major titles in four weight classes.

That includes the heavyweight division, to which he moved up from light heavyweight and defeated reigning titleholder John Ruiz by a unanimous decision in 2003 to become the first former middleweight to win a heavyweight title in more than a century.

Jones was never the same after that, suffering eight of his nine losses, and he fought well into his 40s. However, those who saw him at his best will vouch for his greatness.

He was recently back in the news when he faced Mike Tyson in an exhibition.

“This is an absolutely marvelous feeling,” Jones said of his election. “I’m so honored that I get this opportunity and I can’t wait to go to Canastota to see it come to fruition.”

Toney (77-10-3, 47 KOs) had a more difficult time with his weight than opponents. Still, the master technician won titles in three divisions – middleweight, super middleweight and cruiserweight — and became a top heavyweight contender.

“Lights out” upset then-unbeaten Michael Nunn by an 11th-round knockout to win a middleweight title in 1991. He then took down Reggie Johnson, Mike McCallum (after an earlier draw), Iran Barkley and many other top fighters between middleweight and light heavyweight.

He lost back-to-back fights to Jones and Griffin in 1994 and 1995 but rebounded to become an outstanding cruiserweight and good heavyweight. He became only the second to stop Evander Holyfield in 2003 and then beat Ruiz to win a title only to lose it after testing positive for a banned substance.

Toney continued to fight until he was almost 50.

​“Yeah baby! I made it,” Toney said. “This is so great. I’ve been waiting for this call and I’m so happy. I can’t believe it. I’m almost tearing up. It’s a blessing and I’m looking forward to coming to Canastota as an inductee!”

Cotto (41-6, 33 KOs) ranks with the best Puerto Rican fighters of all time. He won major titles in four divisions and fought all the top contenders near his weight, beating Paulie Malignaggi, Zab Judah, Shane Mosley, Ricardo Mayorga and Antonio Margarito after an earlier loss.

He also lost to Manny Pacquiao, Mayweather, Austin Trout, Canelo Alvarez and Sadam Ali in his final fight but always gave a good account of himself.

“After many years in boxing, I’m so proud of what we have done in the sport,” Cotto said. “Above all I was the head of my family and what made me proud as a father was to provide for my family and thanks to boxing I did it in the best way possible.

“It is amazing, but you have to be humble and carry yourself in the best way possible and work hard every day to reach your goals in life. I look forward to being in Canastota next June.”

Among those who failed to receive enough votes for election were Rafael Marquez, Michael Moorer, Timothy Bradley, Acelino Freitas, Pongsaklek Wonjongkam, Carl Froch, Ivan Calderon and Ricky Hatton.

Jones, Toney and Cotto were elected in the Modern category. Regina Halmich (54-1-1, 16 KOs) and Holly Holm (33-2-3, 9 KOs) in the women’s Modern category.

Halmich, who fought almost exclusively in her native Germany, was almost untouchable during her long career. Holm, perhaps best known for knocking out Ronda Rousey in an MMA bout, was a huge boxing attraction in her native Albuquerque, New Mexico.

“Wow! What an honor,” Halmich said. “I’m very, very happy. My biggest wish was to one day be in the International Boxing Hall of Fame and this is really the biggest honor for me.”

Said Holm: “​I feel very humbled and honored to be acknowledged amongst the greatest. I’m kind of speechless actually. I’m really excited.”

Also being inducted are: publicist Bill Caplan in the Non-Participant category; and writer Ron Borges and historian Bob Yalen in the Observer category.

Special report: Ranking Canelo Alvarez’s calendar years in boxing, best to worst

Special report: Ranking Canelo Alvarez’s calendar years in boxing, best to worst.

Canelo Alvarez has known almost nothing but success over the past decade-plus.

The Mexican star has beaten one ranked fighter after another, won major titles in four divisions and is on the cusp of becoming an undisputed champion for the first time. Alvarez (56-1-2, 38 KOs) faces Caleb Plant (21-0, 12 KOs) for all four major super middleweight belts in a pay-per-view bout Saturday from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

In this special feature, we take a look at Alvarez’s performances year by calendar year and then rank those years – best to worst – beginning in 2010, when he was introduced to American audiences on a significant scale.

The current year is not including because it hinges on Saturday’s fight. If he wins, it will be among his best years. If he loses, it will be down the list.

Here is what we came up with:

2019

Record: 2-0
Opponents: Daniel Jacobs (UD) and Sergey Kovalev (KO 11)
Background: The victory over Jacobs seems to fly under the radar but it was impressive. Jacobs was talented, polished, a big middleweight and at the top of his game when he met Alvarez in a title-unification bout. And the Mexican was up to the challenge, outboxing Jacobs to win a unanimous decision in a competitive fight. … Six months later he made a bold move by deciding to move up to light heavyweight to challenge beltholder Kovalev, who was somewhat past his prime but still dangerous and bigger than Alvarez. The Russian fought Alvarez on roughly even terms until the challenger dropped the hammer in Round 11. Two big fights, two big victories.

2018

Record: 2-0
Opponents: Gennadiy Golovkin (MD) and Rocky Fielding (TKO 3)
Background: The victory over Triple-G in their rematch was arguably the greatest of Alvarez’s career. The two best 160-pounders in the world had fought to a disputed draw a year earlier and there was every reason to believe the second fight would be just as close and perhaps disputed. It was, as both men held their own. However, unlike the first meeting, Alvarez pushed the action much of the fight and was rewarded for that on two of three cards. Golovkin was unbeaten and had made a record-tying 20 successful defenses going into the fight. … Throw out the Fielding fight. That was a secondary 168-pound title grab against a second-tier opponent.

2015

Record: 2-0
Opponents: James Kirkland (KO 3) and Miguel Cotto (UD)
Background: The victory over the wildly aggressive Kirkland wasn’t as meaningful many other Alvarez triumphs because of the Texan’s limitations. However, Alvarez’s brutal knockout might’ve been the most breathtaking of his 38 stoppages, which added considerably to his growing star power. … Cotto, 35, was past his prime and a smallish 154-pounder but his unquestioned ability and experience made him a threat to Alvarez, at least on paper. In the end, the slick Puerto Rican did give Alvarez some difficulty but he ended up on the wrong end of a clear decision.

2014

Record: 2-0
Opponents: Alfredo Angulo (TKO 10) and Erislandy Lara (SD)
Background: Some might forget that Angulo was a solid, durable boxer who was coming off a strong performance in a loss to the respected Lara when he fought Alvarez. Yet Alvarez dominated his fellow Mexican in his first fight since losing to Floyd Mayweather. He outboxed Angulo for nine rounds and then stopped him in Round 10. … Some of Alvarez’s handlers didn’t want him to fight Lara, a tricky Cuban southpaw who could make anyone look bad. And that’s how it played out. Alvarez had to scrape and claw to eke out a split-decision victory that many believe was a gift from two of the three judges.

2020

Record: 1-0
Opponent: Callum Smith (UD)
Background: Alvarez fought only once in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic but made the most the 168-pound title-unification bout. Smith was a legitimate opponent on paper, tall, skillful, experienced. He was an underdog but some believes he could be competitive against Alvarez. He wasn’t. Alvarez had his way with the Englishman in part because the latter didn’t have the power to knock Alvarez off his game, the result being a one-sided decision in a one-sided fight. The victory gave Alvarez two of the four major super middleweight titles, after which he set his sights on the last two.

2016

Record: 2-0
Opponents: Amir Khan (KO 6) and Liam Smith (KO 9)
Background: Alvarez’s knockout of Khan rivals his stoppage of James Kirkland. Khan, a quick, capable boxer who had moved up from 147 pounds to a catch weight of 155, held his own for five-plus rounds and then BAM! A right hand from hell put Khan down and removed him from his senses. … The Smith fight was as much about the crowd size and venue – 50,000-plus at the home of the Dallas Cowboys – as the opponent. Smith, the brother of Callum Smith, was a solid all-around fighter but had no where near Alvarez’s ability. The Englishman was overwhelmed in the end.

2012

Record: 2-0
Opponents: Shane Mosley (UD) and Josesito Lopez (TKO 5)
Background: Mosley, 40, was well past his prime when he met Alvarez but the fight was important for the rising star because Sugar Shane was the first major figure on his resume. And he didn’t disappoint, even at 21 years old. The younger, faster man outboxed his overmatched elder from beginning to end to win by a near-shutout decision. Taking down a future Hall of Famer is a significant step in any fighter’s career. … Lopez was and remains a gutsy warrior but he was too small for Alvarez, who put him down three times in a one-sided junior middleweight fight.

2011

Record: 4-0
Opponents: Matthew Hatton (UD), Ryan Rhodes (TKO 12), Alfonso Gomez (TKO 6), Kermit Cintron (TKO 5)
Background: One could argue that the limited Matthew Hatton. Ricky’s brother, didn’t have the credentials to be fighting for a major belt. However, the fact is he and Alvarez met for the junior middleweight title vacated by Manny Pacquiao. And it wasn’t much of a fight. Alvarez, levels above Hatton, would’ve won every round on all three cards had he not lost a point for hitting after the break in Round 7. He had won the first of eight titles at the tender age of 20. Rhodes, Gomez and Cintron were all solid fighters carefully selected to help Alvarez develop into one of the best fighters in the business.

2010

Record: 5-0
Opponents: Brian Camechis (KO 3), Jose Cotto (TKO 9), Luciano Cuello (TKO 6), Carlos Baldomir (KO 6) and Lovemore Ndou (UD 12)
Background: 2010 was most notable because it was the year in which Alvarez fought on a major U.S. card for the first time. The 19-year-old redhead from Guadalajara stopped Jose Cotto, Miguel’s brother, in the ninth round on the Mayweather-Mosley card at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Cotto hurt Alvarez with a left hook in Round 1 but the teenager battled through it and ended up winning by knockout. Camechis, Cuello, Baldomir and Ndou didn’t give the evolving young star much resistance, which was a pattern that would continue when Alvarez faced second-tier opposition.

2017

Record: 1-0-1
Opponents: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (UD) and Gennadiy Golovkin (SD D)
Background: A showdown between Alvarez and Chavez had been discussed for years. When it finally happened, it wasn’t much of a fight. Alvarez outclassed (embarrassed?) the son of a Mexican legend, winning every round on all three cards. … The first fight between Alvarez and Triple-G was the ultimate middleweight matchup, between a long-reigning knockout artist (Golovkin) and a rising superstar (Alvarez). The Kazakhstani used effective aggression to win over most observers in a competitive fight but he had to settle for a controversial draw. Indeed, Alvarez was fortunate he didn’t leave the ring with his second loss.

2013

Record: 1-1
Opponents: Austin Trout (UD) and Floyd Mayweather (UD L)
Background: The 22-year-old Alvarez took a significant risk when he decided to fight the skillful Trout, who was left-handed, unbeaten and coming off a defining victory over Miguel Cotto. The gamble paid off. In his finest performance to date, he outboxed Trout to win a clear decision. … The decision to fight Mayweather was even bolder. And it didn’t pay off, at least in terms of results. The pound-for-pound king schooled the upstart, who didn’t have the tools to compete with a boxing wizard like Mayweather. The good news for him is that the setback sharpened his resolve to get better. He did.

[lawrence-related id=25595,25419,25389,25345,25341,25333,25146,25143]

Special report: Ranking Canelo Alvarez’s calendar years in boxing, best to worst

Special report: Ranking Canelo Alvarez’s calendar years in boxing, best to worst.

Canelo Alvarez has known almost nothing but success over the past decade-plus.

The Mexican star has beaten one ranked fighter after another, won major titles in four divisions and is on the cusp of becoming an undisputed champion for the first time. Alvarez (56-1-2, 38 KOs) faces Caleb Plant (21-0, 12 KOs) for all four major super middleweight belts in a pay-per-view bout Saturday from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

In this special feature, we take a look at Alvarez’s performances year by calendar year and then rank those years – best to worst – beginning in 2010, when he was introduced to American audiences on a significant scale.

The current year is not including because it hinges on Saturday’s fight. If he wins, it will be among his best years. If he loses, it will be down the list.

Here is what we came up with:

2019

Record: 2-0
Opponents: Daniel Jacobs (UD) and Sergey Kovalev (KO 11)
Background: The victory over Jacobs seems to fly under the radar but it was impressive. Jacobs was talented, polished, a big middleweight and at the top of his game when he met Alvarez in a title-unification bout. And the Mexican was up to the challenge, outboxing Jacobs to win a unanimous decision in a competitive fight. … Six months later he made a bold move by deciding to move up to light heavyweight to challenge beltholder Kovalev, who was somewhat past his prime but still dangerous and bigger than Alvarez. The Russian fought Alvarez on roughly even terms until the challenger dropped the hammer in Round 11. Two big fights, two big victories.

2018

Record: 2-0
Opponents: Gennadiy Golovkin (MD) and Rocky Fielding (TKO 3)
Background: The victory over Triple-G in their rematch was arguably the greatest of Alvarez’s career. The two best 160-pounders in the world had fought to a disputed draw a year earlier and there was every reason to believe the second fight would be just as close and perhaps disputed. It was, as both men held their own. However, unlike the first meeting, Alvarez pushed the action much of the fight and was rewarded for that on two of three cards. Golovkin was unbeaten and had made a record-tying 20 successful defenses going into the fight. … Throw out the Fielding fight. That was a secondary 168-pound title grab against a second-tier opponent.

2015

Record: 2-0
Opponents: James Kirkland (KO 3) and Miguel Cotto (UD)
Background: The victory over the wildly aggressive Kirkland wasn’t as meaningful many other Alvarez triumphs because of the Texan’s limitations. However, Alvarez’s brutal knockout might’ve been the most breathtaking of his 38 stoppages, which added considerably to his growing star power. … Cotto, 35, was past his prime and a smallish 154-pounder but his unquestioned ability and experience made him a threat to Alvarez, at least on paper. In the end, the slick Puerto Rican did give Alvarez some difficulty but he ended up on the wrong end of a clear decision.

2014

Record: 2-0
Opponents: Alfredo Angulo (TKO 10) and Erislandy Lara (SD)
Background: Some might forget that Angulo was a solid, durable boxer who was coming off a strong performance in a loss to the respected Lara when he fought Alvarez. Yet Alvarez dominated his fellow Mexican in his first fight since losing to Floyd Mayweather. He outboxed Angulo for nine rounds and then stopped him in Round 10. … Some of Alvarez’s handlers didn’t want him to fight Lara, a tricky Cuban southpaw who could make anyone look bad. And that’s how it played out. Alvarez had to scrape and claw to eke out a split-decision victory that many believe was a gift from two of the three judges.

2020

Record: 1-0
Opponent: Callum Smith (UD)
Background: Alvarez fought only once in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic but made the most the 168-pound title-unification bout. Smith was a legitimate opponent on paper, tall, skillful, experienced. He was an underdog but some believes he could be competitive against Alvarez. He wasn’t. Alvarez had his way with the Englishman in part because the latter didn’t have the power to knock Alvarez off his game, the result being a one-sided decision in a one-sided fight. The victory gave Alvarez two of the four major super middleweight titles, after which he set his sights on the last two.

2016

Record: 2-0
Opponents: Amir Khan (KO 6) and Liam Smith (KO 9)
Background: Alvarez’s knockout of Khan rivals his stoppage of James Kirkland. Khan, a quick, capable boxer who had moved up from 147 pounds to a catch weight of 155, held his own for five-plus rounds and then BAM! A right hand from hell put Khan down and removed him from his senses. … The Smith fight was as much about the crowd size and venue – 50,000-plus at the home of the Dallas Cowboys – as the opponent. Smith, the brother of Callum Smith, was a solid all-around fighter but had no where near Alvarez’s ability. The Englishman was overwhelmed in the end.

2012

Record: 2-0
Opponents: Shane Mosley (UD) and Josesito Lopez (TKO 5)
Background: Mosley, 40, was well past his prime when he met Alvarez but the fight was important for the rising star because Sugar Shane was the first major figure on his resume. And he didn’t disappoint, even at 21 years old. The younger, faster man outboxed his overmatched elder from beginning to end to win by a near-shutout decision. Taking down a future Hall of Famer is a significant step in any fighter’s career. … Lopez was and remains a gutsy warrior but he was too small for Alvarez, who put him down three times in a one-sided junior middleweight fight.

2011

Record: 4-0
Opponents: Matthew Hatton (UD), Ryan Rhodes (TKO 12), Alfonso Gomez (TKO 6), Kermit Cintron (TKO 5)
Background: One could argue that the limited Matthew Hatton. Ricky’s brother, didn’t have the credentials to be fighting for a major belt. However, the fact is he and Alvarez met for the junior middleweight title vacated by Manny Pacquiao. And it wasn’t much of a fight. Alvarez, levels above Hatton, would’ve won every round on all three cards had he not lost a point for hitting after the break in Round 7. He had won the first of eight titles at the tender age of 20. Rhodes, Gomez and Cintron were all solid fighters carefully selected to help Alvarez develop into one of the best fighters in the business.

2010

Record: 5-0
Opponents: Brian Camechis (KO 3), Jose Cotto (TKO 9), Luciano Cuello (TKO 6), Carlos Baldomir (KO 6) and Lovemore Ndou (UD 12)
Background: 2010 was most notable because it was the year in which Alvarez fought on a major U.S. card for the first time. The 19-year-old redhead from Guadalajara stopped Jose Cotto, Miguel’s brother, in the ninth round on the Mayweather-Mosley card at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Cotto hurt Alvarez with a left hook in Round 1 but the teenager battled through it and ended up winning by knockout. Camechis, Cuello, Baldomir and Ndou didn’t give the evolving young star much resistance, which was a pattern that would continue when Alvarez faced second-tier opposition.

2017

Record: 1-0-1
Opponents: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (UD) and Gennadiy Golovkin (SD D)
Background: A showdown between Alvarez and Chavez had been discussed for years. When it finally happened, it wasn’t much of a fight. Alvarez outclassed (embarrassed?) the son of a Mexican legend, winning every round on all three cards. … The first fight between Alvarez and Triple-G was the ultimate middleweight matchup, between a long-reigning knockout artist (Golovkin) and a rising superstar (Alvarez). The Kazakhstani used effective aggression to win over most observers in a competitive fight but he had to settle for a controversial draw. Indeed, Alvarez was fortunate he didn’t leave the ring with his second loss.

2013

Record: 1-1
Opponents: Austin Trout (UD) and Floyd Mayweather (UD L)
Background: The 22-year-old Alvarez took a significant risk when he decided to fight the skillful Trout, who was left-handed, unbeaten and coming off a defining victory over Miguel Cotto. The gamble paid off. In his finest performance to date, he outboxed Trout to win a clear decision. … The decision to fight Mayweather was even bolder. And it didn’t pay off, at least in terms of results. The pound-for-pound king schooled the upstart, who didn’t have the tools to compete with a boxing wizard like Mayweather. The good news for him is that the setback sharpened his resolve to get better. He did.

[lawrence-related id=25595,25419,25389,25345,25341,25333,25146,25143]