Canelo Alvarez gives vintage performance, easily beats Jermell Charlo

Canelo Alvarez appeared quite a bit like Canelo Alvarez.

The undisputed 168-pound champion, who many urged was in decline after three consecutive subpar performances, turned again the clock by dominating Jermell Charlo from begin to end to win a one-sided choice Saturday at T-Cellular Enviornment in Las Vegas.

The official scores had been 119-108, 118-109 and 118-109. Boxing Junkie additionally scored it 118-109 for Alvarez, 10 rounds to 2.

What a distinction good well being makes.

“I’m a powerful fighter,” mentioned Alvarez, who blamed his struggles on an injured left wrist that’s now healed, “on a regular basis, with all of the fighters. I’m a powerful man. This Canelo, no person can beat this Canelo.”

Alvarez (60-2-2, 39 KOs) was knocked from his pound-for-pound perch by 175-pound champ Dmitry Bivol, who outpointed him in Could of final yr. Then he gave so-so performances in victories over Gennadiy Golovkin and John Ryder.

That’s why many opined that 18 years as knowledgeable had been starting to meet up with him. His response to that? Wait and see what he may do damage free.

We noticed on Saturday.

Alvarez utilized overwhelming stress on the extremely revered Charlo (35-2-1, 19 KOs) from the second spherical on, touchdown greater than sufficient punishing blows to the top and physique to win rounds and stop Charlo from mounting an assault of his personal.

Charlo, the undisputed 154-pound champ who moved up two divisions for the combat, tried to maneuver and pepper Alvarez with fast, generally onerous blows to maintain him at bay however he had neither the punch quantity nor the ability to earn the stronger man’s respect.

Alvarez put Charlo down in Spherical 7, when a straight proper dazed the challenger and compelled him to take a knee.

Charlo survived that punch and proved to be each sturdy and intelligent sufficient to final your complete 12 rounds towards a much bigger, stronger man, which many believed could be troublesome.

The challenger, a wonderful technician, was adept at avoiding clear punches to the top, apart from a handful of them. And he took the whole lot Alvarez managed to land, together with 42 onerous pictures to the physique, in response to CompuBox.

Alvarez was requested about his physique work. His response made it clear that he’s as passionate concerning the sport as he has ever been, a sign that he has now put his struggles behind him.

“I labored on that within the gymnasium for 3 months within the mountains with out my household, with out my pals,” he mentioned. “I nonetheless love boxing. I nonetheless love boxing. I nonetheless love boxing so f—ing a lot. Boxing is my life.

“Boxing made me the particular person I’m at this time. That’s why I find it irresistible a lot.”

And what about his failure to cease Charlo? Not a problem.

“No no no,” he mentioned. “I really feel nice. That’s why we combat 12 rounds. If I don’t get the knockout, I get 12 rounds to indicate I’m the very best, I’m the higher fighter.”

Alvarez, 33, can now sit up for his subsequent problem with all the arrogance he had when he climbed to the top of the game.

He was requested whether or not he anticipated to combat subsequent on Cinco de Mayo weekend, which has turn into his custom. He appeared to point that that’s the plan. Then he was requested who he’d wish to combat, which sparked his ardour once more.

“We’ll see who’s subsequent,” he mentioned.

“David Benavidez?” he was requested.

“I don’t know. I don’t f—ing care,” he responded, his method of reiterating that nobody can take down this model of him.

Charlo?

The proud Texan clearly wasn’t happy afterward however he additionally wasn’t despondent.

“I simply felt prefer it wasn’t me in there,” he mentioned. “I don’t make excuses for myself. So it’s what it’s. I take my punches and roll with it. That is boxing. Hey, you win some, you lose some. … In truth you may really feel the distinction within the weight. I jumped up 14 kilos.

“I’m undisputed in my division. I used to be daring to be nice proper now. You fall quick generally. You’ve simply preserve pushing. My highway don’t cease proper right here.”

Certainly, it doesn’t. He mentioned he plans on shifting again right down to 154, at which he expects to face the winner of the Oct. 14 Tim Tszyu-Brian Mendoza combat in protection of his titles. He additionally mentioned he’d like to choose on a smaller man for a change.

“I need to combat [welterweight champ] Terence Crawford,” he mentioned. “I may combat Terence Crawford in my weight division. I do know he’s someplace round this joint. Let him combat Errol Spence or no matter they acquired going. Get that out of the best way.

“I’m ready. I’m about to get proper again into the gymnasium.”

Win, lose, massive issues lie forward.