“I’m a strong fighter all the time, against all fighters. I’m a strong man. Nobody can beat this Canelo!”
Those were the words of a very confident and satisfied Canelo Alvarez (60-2-2, 39 KOs) following the 60th professional victory of his career – a 12-round, unanimous-decision drumming of Jermell Charlo (35-2-1, 19 KOs) last night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The judges scored the fight 119-108 and 118-109 (twice). Canelo even scored a knockdown of Charlo in round seven.
The event was billed “Undisputed vs. Undisputed,” as Charlo, the World 154-pound champion, dared to be great moving up two weight-divisions to challenge Canelo for his WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO, & Ring Magazine championships at 168-lbs.
There are weight-classes for a reason. As compelling was the idea of Charlo moving-up two weight-divisions to challenge Canelo, 33, Mexico, for the Undisputed World Super-Middleweight Championship, the reality is, as was proven last night, a good big man will always beat a god little man.
We’ve never seen Charlo fight past 154 throughout his whole career. Charlo, 33, Houston, TX, moved-up two-weights to challenge a man, who for more than several years and nearly a dozen fights, acclimated himself to not only fighting at 168 & 175, but also breaking opponents ribs, orbital bones, and biceps in the process.
Fighting at 168 for the first time in his career, Charlo did none of the things that led him to become ‘Undisputed’ Champion at 154. It’s as though Charlo was content moving around the ring; allowing Canelo to set traps, cut in him off, and pounce hard punches across his body through twelve rounds.
“I just felt like I wasn’t me in there,” Charlo said. “I don’t make excuses for myself, it is what it is. I take my punches and roll with it. It’s boxing. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.”
Clearly, there was a difference in speed and power between Canelo and Charlo. At 168, there wasn’t much Charlo could have done against Canelo, who appeared to have been easily able to walk though Charlo’s punches. Between cutting off the ring, punishing Charlo with stiff jabs, and heavy combinations to the body, Canelo walked Charlo down all fight.
In round seven, Canelo landed a hard right-hand that dropped Charlo. For the rest of the contest, Canelo was in cruise control pressing forward throwing very hard punches. Canelo was also outstanding defensively, as he barely had a scratch on his face.
“We worked on attacking the body,” Canelo said. “We know he’s a great fighter. He knows how to move in the ring. We worked on attacking the body for three months in the mountains without my family, without everything.”
Walker on Boxing 