Video: Mannix, Mora: Is Canelo Alvarez unbeatable?
Is Canelo Alvarez unbeatable?
That’s a reasonable question to ask in the wake of his remarkable run of success. The Mexican star, coming off his knockout of Billy Joe Saunders on Saturday, is now 14-0-1 since he lost a one-sided decision to Floyd Mayweather in 2013.
The only blemish on his record since that fight was a controversial draw in his first of two bouts against Gennadiy Golovkin, in 2017.
In this episode of Jabs with Mannix and Mora, DAZN commentators Chris Mannix and Sergio Mora discuss whether any of Alvarez’s rivals at or near his weight can beat him.
Video: Mannix, Mora: Is Canelo Alvarez unbeatable?
Is Canelo Alvarez unbeatable?
That’s a reasonable question to ask in the wake of his remarkable run of success. The Mexican star, coming off his knockout of Billy Joe Saunders on Saturday, is now 14-0-1 since he lost a one-sided decision to Floyd Mayweather in 2013.
The only blemish on his record since that fight was a controversial draw in his first of two bouts against Gennadiy Golovkin, in 2017.
In this episode of Jabs with Mannix and Mora, DAZN commentators Chris Mannix and Sergio Mora discuss whether any of Alvarez’s rivals at or near his weight can beat him.
Here are the 10 greatest knockouts in Canelo Alvarez’s decorated career.
Canelo Alvarez has become one of the more polished boxers in the game, making him as complete a fighter as anyone.
However, as we know, the Mexican star can also crack. Alvarez (54-1-2) has stopped 36 opponents in his decorated career, one of the larger knockout totals among active fighters.
And, obviously, there are more to come. It appears he will defend his super middleweight belt against overmatched Avni Yildirm late next month, although we’re waiting for an announcement.
In the meantime let’s take a look back on 10 of the four-division titleholder’s most memorable stoppages, starting with his most-recent knockout and working our way back in time.
Here are the 10 greatest knockouts in Canelo Alvarez’s decorated career.
Canelo Alvarez has become one of the more polished boxers in the game, making him as complete a fighter as anyone.
However, as we know, the Mexican star can also crack. Alvarez (54-1-2) has stopped 36 opponents in his decorated career, one of the larger knockout totals among active fighters.
And, obviously, there are more to come. It appears he will defend his super middleweight belt against overmatched Avni Yildirm late next month, although we’re waiting for an announcement.
In the meantime let’s take a look back on 10 of the four-division titleholder’s most memorable stoppages, starting with his most-recent knockout and working our way back in time.
The fight between Sergey Kovalev and Bektemir Melikuziev has been canceled after Kovalev tested positive for a banned substance.
The fight between Sergey Kovalev and Bektemir Melikuziev – scheduled for Jan. 30 in Indio, Calif. – has been canceled after Kovalev tested positive for a banned synthetic testosterone.
The announcement was made in a news release from Golden Boy Promotions, which handles Melikuziev.
The release read: “The Kovalev vs. Melikuziev boxing event scheduled for Jan. 30 has been canceled following a positive test for a banned substance on behalf of Sergey Kovalev through the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA).
“Upon learning of Kovalev’s adverse finding, the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) determined that they must cancel the event.
“While we are crushed for “The Bully” (Melikuziev), we know that he will nevertheless have a tremendous year in 2021. We look forward to our next scheduled boxing event on Feb. 13.”
BoxingScene obtained a copy of a letter that was sent to all parties involved by VADA, which conducted the drug test. It reads in part:
“Adverse analytical finding: IRMS (isotope-ratio mass spectrometry) results are consistent with exogenous origin of testosterone and metabolites.”
And: “Mr. Kovalev has the right to promptly request analysis of the ‘B’ sample at his expense.”
BoxingScene asked Kovalev’s longtime promoter, Kathy Duva, to comment.
“We are aware of the adverse finding from VADA,” she said. “Sergey Kovalev has been proven to be a clean fighter throughout the many years that he has been tested by VADA. VADA was contracted for this fight at his insistence, as he has requested for almost all of his fights going back several years.
“He maintains that he did not purposefully ingest any banned substances. We have made arrangements to have his supplements tested for contamination and will request that VADA test his B sample.”
Kovalev (34-4-1, 29 KOs) last fought in November 2019, when he was knocked out by Canelo Alvarez in the 11th round to lose his 175-pound title.
Melikuziev (6-0, 5 KOs) is a natural super middleweight but agreed to a catch weight of 178 pounds for the fight. The Uzbek is a 2016 Olympic silver medalist.
The fight between Sergey Kovalev and Bektemir Melikuziev has been canceled after Kovalev tested positive for a banned substance.
The fight between Sergey Kovalev and Bektemir Melikuziev – scheduled for Jan. 30 in Indio, Calif. – has been canceled after Kovalev tested positive for a banned synthetic testosterone.
The announcement was made in a news release from Golden Boy Promotions, which handles Melikuziev.
The release read: “The Kovalev vs. Melikuziev boxing event scheduled for Jan. 30 has been canceled following a positive test for a banned substance on behalf of Sergey Kovalev through the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA).
“Upon learning of Kovalev’s adverse finding, the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) determined that they must cancel the event.
“While we are crushed for “The Bully” (Melikuziev), we know that he will nevertheless have a tremendous year in 2021. We look forward to our next scheduled boxing event on Feb. 13.”
BoxingScene obtained a copy of a letter that was sent to all parties involved by VADA, which conducted the drug test. It reads in part:
“Adverse analytical finding: IRMS (isotope-ratio mass spectrometry) results are consistent with exogenous origin of testosterone and metabolites.”
And: “Mr. Kovalev has the right to promptly request analysis of the ‘B’ sample at his expense.”
BoxingScene asked Kovalev’s longtime promoter, Kathy Duva, to comment.
“We are aware of the adverse finding from VADA,” she said. “Sergey Kovalev has been proven to be a clean fighter throughout the many years that he has been tested by VADA. VADA was contracted for this fight at his insistence, as he has requested for almost all of his fights going back several years.
“He maintains that he did not purposefully ingest any banned substances. We have made arrangements to have his supplements tested for contamination and will request that VADA test his B sample.”
Kovalev (34-4-1, 29 KOs) last fought in November 2019, when he was knocked out by Canelo Alvarez in the 11th round to lose his 175-pound title.
Melikuziev (6-0, 5 KOs) is a natural super middleweight but agreed to a catch weight of 178 pounds for the fight. The Uzbek is a 2016 Olympic silver medalist.
Bektemir Melikuziev, a 2016 Olympic silver medalist, seems to have the ingredients to succeed as a professional.
One way of gauging the ability of a fighter – particularly his punching power – is the number of sparring partners he scares away.
Bektemir Melikuziev, the stout super middleweight prospect from Uzbekistan, has driven off so many of them that trainer Joel Diaz is running out of options at their training camp in Indio, Calif.
Melikuziev (6-0, 5 KOs) fights Sergey Kovalev (34-4-1, 29 KOs) on Jan. 30 in Moscow (DAZN).
“It’s so hard to find sparring,” Diaz told Boxing Junkie. “Every time I bring someone in, he hurts them. Honestly, every, single fighter I have out here – cruiserweights, even heavyweights – he just hurts them. They don’t want to spar no more.
“The last couple of weeks I’ve had to pay top dollar to get people to spar with him. I’m telling you: He’s very powerful, with both hands.”
Alan Campa (on the canvas) didn’t last three rounds with Bektemir Melikuziev in October. Tom Hogan / Hoganphotos-Golden Boy
Melikuziev, 24, is in the Mike Tyson or Canelo Alvarez mold, relatively short but thick and both athletic and strong. One difference: He’s a southpaw. And he has a special skill set honed over a long amateur career, which culminated in a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics.
The fighter’s nickname is “Bully,” which he says perfectly describes his style in the ring, not how he treats people.
“I’m a straight forward fighter,” he told Boxing Junkie through a translator. “It’s similar to any other fighter, I think. Your style comes from your personality. I come straight forward.
“I don’t care who I’m up against. I just go for it. That’s my style.”
That doesn’t mean that Melikuziev is reckless. Diaz made it clear that his fighter is more than mere aggression and power. There’s a method to his madness.
Diaz compared him to Manny Pacquiao in the sense that he constantly moves and his punches come from a variety of angles, some of which his opponents cannot anticipate. That, Diaz believes, makes him a difficult opponent for anyone.
“When I was training Tim Bradley for his fights with Pacquiao,” Diaz said, ” … [Bradley] told me, ‘By the third round, I was tired.’ I said, ‘You weren’t tired physically, you were tired mentally. Manny Pacquiao is always in and out, never in one spot. You don’t know where the punches are coming from. That breaks you down mentally.
“Bekt is the same way, in and out. He’s always moving his feet. And as soon as you make a move, he catches you. As soon as you open up, he catches you. He has perfect timing.”
One might question Melikuziev’s timing when it comes to accepting a fight with Sergey Kovalev, who represents a gamble for boxer with so few pro bouts.
Kovalev, 37, is a naturally bigger power-puncher with vast experience who proved against Canelo Alvarez in November 2019 that he can still handle himself.
Melikuziev said the plan wasn’t necessarily to go after someone of Kovalev’s ilk in his seventh pro fight. It was more a matter of seizing a good opportunity when it presented itself, which says something about his confidence.
They’ll fight at a catch weight of 178 pounds, three above the light heavyweight limit and 10 above Melikuziev’s natural weight of 168. That doesn’t seem to faze him. He made it clear that he’s a natural super middleweight but he isn’t tied to any division.
His goal is to beat big-name opponents regardless of their weight.
“That was required by my opponent,” Melikuziev said of the catch weight. “He has a name so I agreed to it. This is a big opportunity to put my name out there, to have this kind of fight. I don’t care. I’ll go after anyone between 160 and 175.
“I’m looking forward to this fight. I’ve prepared myself. I’m ready.”
That’s how Diaz feels, too.
“Every fight is a risk,” he said. “If you fight a guy barely turning pro, it’s a risk. If you fight a guy with experience, it’s a risk. That’s boxing. … If you look at Bekt’s resume as an amateur, he fought over 250 fights. He saw it all as an amateur.
“I know amateur and pro is different. He’s still maturing as a pro. But based on my experience, based on the potential I see in only six fights, Bekt is going to destroy Kovalev.”
Bektemir Melikuziev, a 2016 Olympic silver medalist, seems to have the ingredients to succeed as a professional.
One way of gauging the ability of a fighter – particularly his punching power – is the number of sparring partners he scares away.
Bektemir Melikuziev, the stout super middleweight prospect from Uzbekistan, has driven off so many of them that trainer Joel Diaz is running out of options at their training camp in Indio, Calif.
Melikuziev (6-0, 5 KOs) fights Sergey Kovalev (34-4-1, 29 KOs) on Jan. 30 in Moscow (DAZN).
“It’s so hard to find sparring,” Diaz told Boxing Junkie. “Every time I bring someone in, he hurts them. Honestly, every, single fighter I have out here – cruiserweights, even heavyweights – he just hurts them. They don’t want to spar no more.
“The last couple of weeks I’ve had to pay top dollar to get people to spar with him. I’m telling you: He’s very powerful, with both hands.”
Alan Campa (on the canvas) didn’t last three rounds with Bektemir Melikuziev in October. Tom Hogan / Hoganphotos-Golden Boy
Melikuziev, 24, is in the Mike Tyson or Canelo Alvarez mold, relatively short but thick and both athletic and strong. One difference: He’s a southpaw. And he has a special skill set honed over a long amateur career, which culminated in a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics.
The fighter’s nickname is “Bully,” which he says perfectly describes his style in the ring, not how he treats people.
“I’m a straight forward fighter,” he told Boxing Junkie through a translator. “It’s similar to any other fighter, I think. Your style comes from your personality. I come straight forward.
“I don’t care who I’m up against. I just go for it. That’s my style.”
That doesn’t mean that Melikuziev is reckless. Diaz made it clear that his fighter is more than mere aggression and power. There’s a method to his madness.
Diaz compared him to Manny Pacquiao in the sense that he constantly moves and his punches come from a variety of angles, some of which his opponents cannot anticipate. That, Diaz believes, makes him a difficult opponent for anyone.
“When I was training Tim Bradley for his fights with Pacquiao,” Diaz said, ” … [Bradley] told me, ‘By the third round, I was tired.’ I said, ‘You weren’t tired physically, you were tired mentally. Manny Pacquiao is always in and out, never in one spot. You don’t know where the punches are coming from. That breaks you down mentally.
“Bekt is the same way, in and out. He’s always moving his feet. And as soon as you make a move, he catches you. As soon as you open up, he catches you. He has perfect timing.”
One might question Melikuziev’s timing when it comes to accepting a fight with Sergey Kovalev, who represents a gamble for boxer with so few pro bouts.
Kovalev, 37, is a naturally bigger power-puncher with vast experience who proved against Canelo Alvarez in November 2019 that he can still handle himself.
Melikuziev said the plan wasn’t necessarily to go after someone of Kovalev’s ilk in his seventh pro fight. It was more a matter of seizing a good opportunity when it presented itself, which says something about his confidence.
They’ll fight at a catch weight of 178 pounds, three above the light heavyweight limit and 10 above Melikuziev’s natural weight of 168. That doesn’t seem to faze him. He made it clear that he’s a natural super middleweight but he isn’t tied to any division.
His goal is to beat big-name opponents regardless of their weight.
“That was required by my opponent,” Melikuziev said of the catch weight. “He has a name so I agreed to it. This is a big opportunity to put my name out there, to have this kind of fight. I don’t care. I’ll go after anyone between 160 and 175.
“I’m looking forward to this fight. I’ve prepared myself. I’m ready.”
That’s how Diaz feels, too.
“Every fight is a risk,” he said. “If you fight a guy barely turning pro, it’s a risk. If you fight a guy with experience, it’s a risk. That’s boxing. … If you look at Bekt’s resume as an amateur, he fought over 250 fights. He saw it all as an amateur.
“I know amateur and pro is different. He’s still maturing as a pro. But based on my experience, based on the potential I see in only six fights, Bekt is going to destroy Kovalev.”
Canelo Alvarez is around a 4-1 favorite to beat Callum Smith on Dec. 19 at the Alamodome in San Antonio on DAZN, according to BetMGM. That doesn’t mean Alvarez can take anything for granted against the unbeaten super middleweight titleholder from …
Canelo Alvarez is around a 4-1 favorite to beat Callum Smith on Dec. 19 at the Alamodome in San Antonio on DAZN, according to BetMGM.
That doesn’t mean Alvarez can take anything for granted against the unbeaten super middleweight titleholder from Liverpool, England, who is a capable, experienced all-around fighter and much taller than the pound-for-pounder from Mexico.
In this episode of Jabs with Mannix and Mora, courtesy of DAZN, hosts Chris Mannix and Sergio Mora tackle the question: Is Smith a legitimate threat to beat Alvarez?
Hint: They came to the same conclusion. Here’s what they had to say.
Canelo Alvarez is around a 4-1 favorite to beat Callum Smith on Dec. 19 at the Alamodome in San Antonio on DAZN, according to BetMGM. That doesn’t mean Alvarez can take anything for granted against the unbeaten super middleweight titleholder from …
Canelo Alvarez is around a 4-1 favorite to beat Callum Smith on Dec. 19 at the Alamodome in San Antonio on DAZN, according to BetMGM.
That doesn’t mean Alvarez can take anything for granted against the unbeaten super middleweight titleholder from Liverpool, England, who is a capable, experienced all-around fighter and much taller than the pound-for-pounder from Mexico.
In this episode of Jabs with Mannix and Mora, courtesy of DAZN, hosts Chris Mannix and Sergio Mora tackle the question: Is Smith a legitimate threat to beat Alvarez?
Hint: They came to the same conclusion. Here’s what they had to say.
