By Dan Ambrose: Oleksandr Usyk welcomed Canelo Alvarez to the undisputed membership final Saturday evening following his eleventh spherical knockout victory over unbeaten Caleb ‘Sweethands’ Plant to change into the primary 4-belt champion at tremendous middleweight.
The unbeaten Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs), who now holds the IBF, WBA & WBO heavyweight titles, achieved the feat of changing into undisputed champion at cruiserweight in July 2018 when he defeated Murat Gassiev.
Now the query is, will Canelo (57-1-2, 39 KOs) dare to attempt to change into the undisputed champion at 175? In contrast to what Canelo simply achieved in changing into the undisputed champion at 168, it might take actual braveness for him to attempt the identical factor at 175.
The very fact of the matter is, Canelo had it straightforward in changing into the undisputed champion at 168 as a result of ALL of the champions have been basically the paper selection. To be particular, they have been weak and flawed, the whole thing of them.
It’s glorious that Canelo achieved his objective of changing into the undisputed champion at 168. Nonetheless, it’s honest to say that no less than half a dozen fighters within the tremendous middleweight division may have performed the identical factor if that they had fought the identical poor champions at 168 that Canelo did to change into the undisputed champion.
The champions Canelo beat to change into undisputed at 168:
- Rocky Fielding
- Callum Plant
- Billy Joe Saunders
- Caleb Plant
These are usually not nice fighters and even shut, and it’s not a giant deal that Canelo beat them as a result of, as I mentioned, there are no less than six contenders within the 168-lb division that might have destroyed these 4 paper champions in the event that they got an opportunity to combat them.
These contenders would have overwhelmed the champions that Canelo defeated to change into undisputed:
- David Benavidez
- David Morrell Jr.
- Carlos Gongora
- Edgar Berlanga
- Aidos Yerbossynuly
- Gabe Rosado
What made Canelo’s victory even sweeter was knocking out Plant (21-1, 12 KOs), who had mentioned some irritating issues to and about him throughout their kickoff press convention final September in Los Angeles.
Canelo overpowered Plant Saturday evening, whacking him with onerous left hooks at each alternative all through the competition. Ultimately, Plant was worn down and dropped twice by Canelo within the eleventh spherical.
You’ll be able to argue the ONLY cause Plant lasted so long as he did as a consequence of his capacity to make Canelo miss. We noticed plenty of wild swings by Canelo through the combat, primarily as a result of Mexican star loading up so incessantly.
Congratulations, Welcome to the undisputed membership! @Canelo
— Alexander Usyk (@usykaa) November 7, 2021
When Canelo began throwing mixtures within the tenth, the combat turned straightforward for him, and he teed off on the 28-year-old ‘Sweethands’ Plant.
Andy Ruiz reacts to Canelo’s win over Plant
“He did precisely what he mentioned he was going to do. He was going to bully him and strain him,” mentioned Andy Ruiz Jr. to Fighthype on Canelo Alvarez’s win over Caleb Plant final Saturday evening.
“Mainly, he [Canelo] was a wall the place he [Plant] couldn’t do nothing however shout out to Caleb Plant. He took all of the photographs, nearly each shot till the final rounds,” Ruiz continued.
“Due to all of the punches on the arms, the kidneys, every thing was breaking little by little, however I believed it was going to be over by the seventh spherical,” mentioned Ruiz Jr when instructed that Plant had nothing on his jabs, and so they have been weak.
“For a minute, I received a bit nervous as a result of I believed Canelo was getting a bit pissed off, a bit drained, however I believed he was utilizing nothing however haymakers.
“All these punches have been haymakers. Growth, growth, I may hear them, and it was loopy,” mentioned Ruiz.
Teofimo Lopez Sr. needs Canelo vs. GGG 3
“It was loopy. I actually didn’t know Caleb Plant may take a shot like that, and it actually confused me,” mentioned Teofimo Lopez Sr. to Fighthype in reacting to Canelo’s victory over Plant.
“As a coach, I had him [Plant] dropping by the ninth spherical by knockout, and I used to be mistaken by two rounds. There’s no person on the market that may beat Canelo. The one one on the market who can beat Canelo is GGG, and that didn’t occur.
“Would you guys wish to see a trilogy [between Canelo and Golovkin]? I wish to see it,” mentioned Teofimo Sr. “[David] Benavidez might be the one particular person that might problem him [Canelo] due to his type and the best way he containers.
“He’s extra of a candidate to have likelihood towards Canelo, however no person else.
“Nah,” mentioned Teofimo Sr. when requested if Jermall Charlo can be opponent for Canelo’s subsequent combat. “Canelo has possibly one of the best chin in boxing, and he’s a troublesome man. He’s received good pop, and on this sport, your abilities are about having pop and elegance. And Canelo has each.
Canelo beats Benavidez, says Teofimo Sr
“Canelo has all these mixtures, and I don’t see him dropping to no person proper now,” mentioned Teofimo Sr. “Benavidez, he’ll stroll him down, and when he will get drained, he’ll ultimately cease him.
“Nah,” mentioned Teofimo Sr. when instructed that Benavidez has energy and pace above Plant. “He [Benavidez] doesn’t have Canelo energy; that’s the distinction. No, he doesn’t have that.
“He [Benavidez] does have nice boxing abilities, and I don’t take that away from him. It’s the identical s*** that you simply noticed tonight,” mentioned Teofimo Sr. in saying that Benaidez’s energy isn’t any higher than Plant’s.
“David Benavidez is approach higher than Caleb Plant, however I feel you’ve received to have a hammer to destroy Canelo Alvarez. You’ve received to have a hammer, and there’s no person on the market with that energy.
“The final particular person that might have taken him [Canelo] out was GGG, and he absorbed these punches. I may see it. He [Canelo] was simply born to soak up every thing, and when you might have a fighter like that with chin, it’s nearly unimaginable to knock them out.
“You’ve received to win by factors; you’ve received to final these 12 rounds. I used to be subsequent to someone at this time, and I mentioned, ‘This s*** isn’t going to final for 12 rounds.’ This man is just not taking place, and he absorbed plenty of punches.
“I take my hat off toe Caleb Plant. He did an incredible job, however one of the best man received tonight. Wherever my son [Teofimo Jr] lands, you’re taking place.
“Sure,” mentioned Teofimo Sr. when requested if Canelo Alvarez is bigger than Julio Cesar Chavez. “Julio Cesar Chavez was an incredible technical nice fighter, going to the physique, however he was by no means explosive like Canelo.
“Canelo would knock you out with one punch. Within the historical past of Mexican boxing, I feel when Canelo will get by with this, he’s going to be the best.
“We get to see it, which is particular. That is what I like,” mentioned Teofimo Sr.
