Canelo Alvarez has been the king of the super middleweights since 2018, when he won his first title in the 168-pound division. During this time he has faced opponents with different qualities and has beaten them clearly, although since 2019 he has not achieved a knockout victory or since 2021 by TKO. For several boxing analysts, this is because Canelo has had opponents who are not up to the level of a world champion. His last six fights have been won by “unanimous decision”.
On September 13, the Mexican will defend his belts against the four-time world champion, Terence Crawford, in Las Vegas, Nevada, in a fight that could clear his name from criticism from experts and fans alike. However, the American belongs to the welterweight division (147 pounds) which means having to move up three divisions to face Canelo Alvarez, so it will be his first appearance in “super middleweight”. For many, a possible victory for the Mexican, but with little value.
Rivals to suit or absolute superiority of Canelo Alvarez in the super middleweights?
The 35-year-old champion has become a victim of his own success. Former WBA super middleweight champion George Groves, who could have faced Canelo if he had beaten Callum Smith in September 2018, shares that view. In 2019, Saul Alvarez went on a four-fight streak in 11 months and won all the 168-pound belts. Groves has previously pointed out that, by being too superior for his rivals, the Mexican made the division less attractive by abandoning the middleweight division in 2019.
George Groves analyses some of the opponents he has beaten in the ring. “Edgar Berlanga doesn’t cut it, David Benavidez was too big for the weight; Scull, … speechless; who is left to challenge him? Hamzah Sheeraz was over 160 pounds. Diego Pacheco? I don’t think so. He really screwed up, there’s nothing to get excited about,” said the former super middleweight champion, but he also pointed out who could be the next champions in the division.
The boxers who can beat Canelo Alvarez
In a future analysis, it also predicts who will be the new kings of the 168 pounds. Newly crowned WBC interim champion Christian Mbilli (29-0, 24 KOs) will face unbeaten Lester Martinez on the Canelo-Crawford undercard next month, with the intention of putting on a performance that will pave the way for him to win the absolute title. Sheeraz, almost a decade younger than his idol, has also been considered, but made his mark in his divisional debut by defeating Berlanga in New York by a fifth-round technical knockout.
Many consider it premature for the heavy-hitting Briton to focus too much energy on a declining legend, while Matchroom-backed Diego Pacheco is even younger and is moving steadily towards title contention after 12-round decision wins over Steven Nelson and Trevor McCumby this year. “Hamzah must hit really hard, when you see his size, they don’t normally have that power, but he’s like Tommy Hearns,” said Groves, who is only waiting for Canelo’s retirement for the super middleweight division to become exciting again.
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